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Entry 17 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Wheel

/(hwēl)/ · IPA /wil/
01 n. A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central…
  1. 1.
    A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, -- used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc.
    “The gasping charioteer beneath the wheel Of his own car.” — Dryden.
  2. 2.
    Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel.
  3. 3.
    A spinning wheel. See under Spinning. See: Spinning
  4. 4.
    An instrument of torture formerly used.
    “His examination is like that which is made by the rack and wheel.” — Addison.
  5. 5.
    A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering.(Naut.)
  6. 6.
    A potter's wheel. See under Potter.(Pottery) See: Potter
    “Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.” — Jer. xviii. 3.
    “Turn, turn, my wheel! This earthen jar A touch can make, a touch can mar.” — Longfellow.
  7. 7.
    A firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases.(Pyrotechny)
  8. 8.
    The burden or refrain of a song.(Poetry)
    “You must sing a-down a-down, An you call him a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes it!” — Shak.
  9. 9.
    A bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede.
  10. 10.
    A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb.
  11. 11.
    A turn revolution; rotation; compass.
    “According to the common vicissitude and wheel of things, the proud and the insolent, after long trampling upon others, come at length to be trampled upon themselves.” — South.
    “[He] throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel.” — Milton.
Phrases & compounds
A wheel within a wheel — a complication of circumstances, motives, etc.
Balance wheel — See in the Vocab.
Bevel wheel — See under Bevel, Brake, etc.
Core wheel — A mortise gear.
Measuring wheel — an odometer, or perambulator.
Wheel and axle — one of the elementary machines or mechanical powers, consisting of a wheel fixed to an axle, and used for raising great weights, by applying the power to the circumference of the wheel, and attaching the weight, by a rope or chain, to that of the axle. Called also axis in peritrochio, and perpetual lever, -- the principle of equilibrium involved being the same as in the lever, while its action is continuous. See Mechanical powers, under Mechanical.
Wheel animal — any one of numerous species of rotifers having a ciliated disk at the anterior end.
Wheel barometer — See under Barometer.
Wheel boat — a boat with wheels, to be used either on water or upon inclined planes or railways.
Wheel bug — a large North American hemipterous insect (Prionidus cristatus) which sucks the blood of other insects. So named from the curious shape of the prothorax.
Wheel carriage — a carriage moving on wheels.
Wheel chains — the chains or ropes connecting the wheel and rudder.
Wheel cutter — a machine for shaping the cogs of gear wheels; a gear cutter.
Wheel horse — one of the horses nearest to the wheels, as opposed to a leader, or forward horse; -- called also wheeler.
Wheel lathe — a lathe for turning railway-car wheels.
Wheel lock — A letter lock. See under Letter.
Wheel ore — a variety of bournonite so named from the shape of its twin crystals. See Bournonite.
Wheel pit — a pit in the ground, in which the lower part of the fly wheel runs.
Wheel plow — a plow having one or two wheels attached, to render it more steady, and to regulate the depth of the furrow.
Wheel press — a press by which railway-car wheels are forced on, or off, their axles.
Wheel race — the place in which a water wheel is set.
Wheel rope — a tiller rope. See under Tiller.
Wheel stitch — a stitch resembling a spider's web, worked into the material, and not over an open space.
Wheel tree — a tree (Aspidosperma excelsum) of Guiana, which has a trunk so curiously fluted that a transverse section resembles the hub and spokes of a coarsely made wheel. See Paddlewood.
Wheel urchin — any sea urchin of the genus Rotula having a round, flat shell.
Wheel window — a circular window having radiating mullions arranged like the spokes of a wheel. Cf. Rose window, under Rose.
02 v. t. To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood.
imp. & p. p. Wheeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wheeling
  1. 1.
    To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood.
  2. 2.
    To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle.
    “Now heaven, in all her glory, shone, and rolled Her motions, as the great first mover's hand First wheeled their course.” — Milton.
03 v. i. To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate.
  1. 1.
    To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate.
    “The moon carried about the earth always shows the same face to us, not once wheeling upon her own center.” — Bentley.
  2. 2.
    To change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right.
    “Being able to advance no further, they are in a fair way to wheel about to the other extreme.” — South.
  3. 3.
    To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass.
    “Then wheeling down the steep of heaven he flies.” — Pope.
  4. 4.
    To roll forward.
    “Thunder mixed with hail, Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky, And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls.” — Milton.