Library / English Dictionary

WHEEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

wheeled vehicle (a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people)

Meronyms (parts of "wheel"):

bicycle seat; saddle (a seat for the rider of a bicycle)

bicycle wheel (the wheel of a bicycle)

chain (a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament)

coaster brake (a brake on a bicycle that engages with reverse pressure on the pedals)

handlebar (the shaped bar used to steer a bicycle)

kickstand (a swiveling metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle; the rod lies horizontally when not in use but can be kicked into a vertical position as a support to hold the vehicle upright when it is not being ridden)

mudguard; splash-guard; splash guard (a curved piece above the wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle to protect the rider from water or mud thrown up by the wheels)

foot lever; foot pedal; pedal; treadle (a lever that is operated with the foot)

sprocket; sprocket wheel (thin wheel with teeth that engage with a chain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wheel"):

bicycle-built-for-two; tandem; tandem bicycle (a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two seats)

all-terrain bike; mountain bike; off-roader (a bicycle with a sturdy frame and fat tires; originally designed for riding in mountainous country)

ordinary; ordinary bicycle (an early bicycle with a very large front wheel and small back wheel)

push-bike (a bicycle that must be pedaled)

safety bicycle; safety bike (bicycle that has two wheels of equal size; pedals are connected to the rear wheel by a multiplying gear)

velocipede (any of several early bicycles with pedals on the front wheel)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims

Synonyms:

rack; wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

instrument of torture (an instrument of punishment designed and used to inflict torture on the condemned person)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Game equipment consisting of a wheel with slots that is used for gambling; the wheel rotates horizontally and players bet on which slot the roulette ball will stop in

Synonyms:

roulette wheel; wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

game equipment (equipment or apparatus used in playing a game)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A handwheel that is used for steering

Synonyms:

steering wheel; wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

handwheel (control consisting of a wheel whose rim serves as the handle by which a part is operated)

Holonyms ("wheel" is a part of...):

steering mechanism; steering system (a mechanism by which something is steered (especially a motor vehicle))

Sense 5

Meaning:

A simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

machine; simple machine (a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point)

Meronyms (parts of "wheel"):

felloe; felly (rim (or part of the rim) into which spokes are inserted)

rim (the outer part of a wheel to which the tire is attached)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wheel"):

pinwheel (a wheel that has numerous pins that are set at right angles to its rim)

potter's wheel (a horizontal rotating wheel holding the clay being shaped by a potter)

ratchet wheel (toothed wheel held in place by a pawl or detent and turned by a lever)

roller (a small wheel without spokes (as on a roller skate))

roulette; toothed wheel (a wheel with teeth for making a row of perforations)

rowel (a small spiked wheel at the end of a spur)

sprocket; sprocket wheel (thin wheel with teeth that engage with a chain)

trundle (small wheel or roller)

wagon wheel (a wheel of a wagon)

water wheel; waterwheel (a wheel that rotates by direct action of water; a simple turbine)

water wheel; waterwheel (a wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pond)

balance; balance wheel (a wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat)

bicycle wheel (the wheel of a bicycle)

buffing wheel (a wheel that is covered with soft material)

cartwheel (a wheel that has wooden spokes and a metal rim)

car wheel (a wheel that has a tire and rim and hubcap; used to propel the car)

daisy print wheel; daisy wheel (a wheel around which is a set of print characters that make a typing impression on paper)

driving wheel (a wheel that drives a motor vehicle (transforms torque into a tractive force))

cogwheel; gear; gear wheel; geared wheel (a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion)

emery wheel; grinding wheel (a wheel composed of abrasive material; used for grinding)

handwheel (a wheel worked by hand)

nosewheel (a wheel located under the nose of an airplane that is part of the plane's landing gear)

paddle wheel; paddlewheel (a large wheel fitted with paddles and driven by an engine in order to propel a boat)

Holonyms ("wheel" is a part of...):

wheeled vehicle (a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people)

Derivation:

wheel (move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle)

wheel (ride a bicycle)

wheel (wheel somebody or something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A circular helm to control the rudder of a vessel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

helm (steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Forces that provide energy and direction

Example:

the wheels of government began to turn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("wheel" is a kind of...):

force (a powerful effect or influence)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle

Example:

The President's convoy rolled past the crowds

Synonyms:

roll; wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "wheel" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wheel"):

bowl (roll (a ball))

troll (cause to move round and round)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

wheel (a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines))

wheeling (propelling something on wheels)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ride a bicycle

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; pedal; wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "wheel" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wheel"):

unicycle (ride a unicycle)

backpedal (pedal backwards on a bicycle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

wheel (a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines))

wheeler (a person who rides a bicycle)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Change directions as if revolving on a pivot

Example:

They wheeled their horses around and left

Synonyms:

wheel; wheel around

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "wheel" is one way to...):

go around; revolve; rotate (turn on or around an axis or a center)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wheel"):

cartwheel (do cartwheels: perform an acrobatic movement using both hands and feet)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

wheeler (the man at the outermost end of the rank in wheeling)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Wheel somebody or something

Synonyms:

wheel; wheel around

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "wheel" is one way to...):

transport (move something or somebody around; usually over long distances)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

wheel (a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines))

Credits

 Context examples: 

At midnight I went to relieve the man at the wheel, and when I got to it found no one there.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Approach the table," said he; and I wheeled it to his couch.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The sound of carriage wheels caused him to rise and glance out of the window.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The house opposite your eleventh house of friendship on the horoscope wheel is your fifth house of truelove.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He turned and walked aft to the wheel.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I described, as well as I could, our way of riding; the shape and use of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a whip; of harness and wheels.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson,” he added, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The wheels have been fairly worn out these ten years at least—and as for the body!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The chargers spun round each other, biting and striking, while the two blades wheeled and whizzed and circled in gleams of dazzling light.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)