wheel

wheel [hwēl, wēl]

n.

[ME whele < OE hweol, earlier hweogol < IE * kwekwlo-, wheel (> Gr kyklos, a circle) < base * kwel-, to turn, be around, dwell > Gr telos, turning point, end, polos, axis, L colere, to till, dwell, Ger hals, neck]

1. a solid or partly solid disk, or a circular frame connected by spokes to a central hub, capable of turning on a central axis and used as to move vehicles or transmit power in machinery

2. anything like a wheel in shape, movement, action, etc., as a fireworks device that revolves while burning

3. a device or apparatus of which the principal element is a wheel or wheels; specif.,

a) in the Middle Ages, an instrument of torture consisting of a circular frame on which the victim's limbs were painfully stretched

b) a wheel with projecting handles for controlling the rudder of a ship

c) short for PADDLE WHEEL, POTTER'S WHEEL, SPINNING WHEEL, STEERING WHEEL, etc.

d) any of various rotating disks used for gambling [a roulette wheel ]

☆ e) Informal a bicycle

☆ f) [pl.] Slang an automobile

4. [usually pl.] the moving, propelling, or controlling forces or agencies [the wheels of progress]

5. a turning about; circular, rotating, or revolving movement; specif., a turning movement as of troops or ships in line, with one end of the line as the pivot; also, any pivoting movement like this, as of dancers

☆ 6. Slang an important, influential, or authoritative person: also big wheel

7. Archaic the refrain of a song

vt.

1.

a) to move or roll along (something equipped with wheels) [to wheel a baby buggy]

b) to transport in a wheeled vehicle

2. to cause to turn, revolve, or rotate

3. to furnish with a wheel or wheels

vi.

1. to turn on or as on an axis; pivot, rotate, revolve, etc.

2. to reverse one's course of action, movement, opinion, attitude, etc.: often with about

3. to turn in a swooping, circular motion: said of birds

4. to move or roll along on or as on wheels

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at the wheel or behind the wheel

1. steering a ship, motor vehicle, etc.

2. in charge; directing activities

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☆ spin one's wheels

Informal to engage in fruitless activity

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☆ wheel and deal pt. & pp.wheeled and dealed

Slang to behave in an aggressive, flamboyant way, as in arranging business or political deals

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wheel of fortune

1. the wheel which the goddess of fortune was believed to rotate to bring about the alternations or reverses in human affairs

2. the changes or vicissitudes of life

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wheels within wheels

a series of involved or interrelated circumstances, motives, etc. reacting upon one another