a circular frame or disk arranged to revolve on an axis, as on or in vehicles or machinery.

any machine, apparatus, instrument, etc., shaped like this or having a circular frame, disk, or revolving drum as an essential feature

a potter's wheel; roulette wheel; spinning wheel.

steering wheel.

Nautical .

a circular frame with an axle connecting to the rudder of a ship, for steering

He took the wheel during the storm.

a paddle wheel.

a propeller.

Informal . a bicycle.

a round object, decoration, etc.

a wheel of cheese; a design of red wheels and blue squares.

an old instrument of torture in the form of a circular frame on which the victim was stretched until disjointed.

a circular firework that revolves rapidly while burning; pinwheel.

a rotating instrument that Fortune is represented as turning in order to bring about changes or reverses in human affairs.

wheels,

moving, propelling, or animating agencies

the wheels of commerce; the wheels of thought.

Slang . a personal means of transportation, esp. a car.

a cycle, recurring action, or steady progression

the wheel of days and nights.

a wheeling or circular movement

the intricate wheels of the folk dances.

(formerly) a movement of troops, ships, etc., drawn up in line, as if turning on a pivot.

Informal . someone active and influential, as in business, politics, etc.; an important person

a big wheel.

to cause to turn, rotate, or revolve, as on an axis.

to perform (a movement) in a circular or curving direction.

to move, roll, or convey on wheels, casters, etc.

The servants wheel the tables out.

to provide (a vehicle, machine, etc.) with wheels.

to turn on or as on an axis or about a center; revolve, rotate, or pivot.

to move in a circular or curving course

pigeons wheeling above.

to turn so as to face in a different direction (often fol. by about or around )

He wheeled about and faced his opponent squarely.

to change one's opinion or procedure (often fol. by about or around )

He wheeled around and argued for the opposition.

to roll along on or as on wheels; travel along smoothly

The car wheeled along the highway.

British Military . to turn

Right wheel!

at the wheel

at the helm of a ship, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, etc.

in command or control

Her ambition is to be at the wheel of a large corporation by the age of 40.

hell on wheels. hell ( def. 19 ) .

spin one's wheels

Informal . to expend or waste effort to no avail

He spun his wheels on that project for two years.

wheel and deal

Informal . to operate dynamically for one's own profit or benefit.

wheels within wheels

an involved interaction of motives or agencies operating to produce the final result

Government agencies are a study of wheels within wheels.

noun

caster , circuit , circulation , circumvolution , cycle , disk , drum , gyration , gyre , hoop , pivot , pulley , ratchet , ring , roll , roller , rotation , round , spin , trolley , turn , twirl , whirl , band , arbor , axle , axletree , castor , cog , cogwheel , felly , flange , gear , hub , lathe , linchpin , miter wheel , rotiform , roulette , rowel , sheave , sheave (wheel of a pulley). associated words:spoke , skid , sprag , sprocket , straddle , strake , tire , traction , trochilic , trochilics , truckle , whorl

verb

circle , gyrate , orbit , pirouette , pivot , reel , revolve , roll , spin , swing , swivel , trundle , twirl , whirl , circumvolve , rotate , motor , pilot , cam , caster , cog , disk , gear , gyration , helm , lathe , loop , revolution , rim , roller , rotation , rotor , round , rowel , sheave , sprocket , swirl , tire , treadmill , turn