wheel
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a round object that turns around a center point to help a vehicle move or a machine work.
n.a circular component that rotates on an axle, used to facilitate movement or to transmit power in machinery.
Simple“The bicycle has two wheels made of metal and rubber.”
In context“The heavy cart was difficult to move because one of its wooden wheels had become stuck in the deep mud.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the round handle you use to steer a car or a ship.
n.the steering wheel of a vehicle or the helm of a ship, used to control direction.
Simple“Keep both hands on the wheel while you are driving.”
In context“The captain stood at the wheel, navigating the vessel through the narrow channel as the storm approached.”
Synonymssteering wheelhelm - 03 C1 Advanced
n.an important or powerful person in an organization.
n.an individual possessing significant power or influence within a specific hierarchy or social circle.
Simple“His uncle is a big wheel in the local government.”
In context“She managed to secure the contract by networking with the big wheels of the tech industry at the annual conference.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to move someone or something that is sitting on wheels.
v.to transport a person or object using a wheeled vehicle or device, such as a trolley or wheelchair.
Simple“The nurse will wheel the patient into the operating room.”
In context“The waiters began to wheel the dessert trolleys through the dining room, offering a variety of cakes to the guests.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to turn around quickly or move in a circle.
v.to turn or pivot suddenly on the spot, or to move in a circular path.
Simple“The birds began to wheel in the sky above the field.”
In context“He wheeled around to face his accuser, his expression shifting from surprise to anger in an instant.”
From Middle English whel, from Old English hwēol, from Proto-West Germanic hwehwl, from Proto-Germanic hwehwlą, hweulō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷekʷlóm, kʷékʷlos, kʷékʷléh₂, reduplication of *kʷel- (“to turn”) and a suffix (literally "(the thing that) turns and turns"). See also West Frisian tsjil, Dutch wiel, Danish hjul; also Tocharian B kokale (“cart, wagon”), Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos, “cycle, wheel”), Avestan 𐬗𐬀𐬑𐬭𐬀 (caxra), Sanskrit चक्र (cakrá); and Latin colō (“to till, cultivate”), Tocharian A and Tocharian B käl- (“to bear; bring”), Ancient Greek πέλω (pélō, “to come into existence, become”), Old Church Slavonic коло (kolo, “wheel”), Albanian sjell (“to bring, carry, turn around”), Avestan 𐬗𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 (caraⁱti, “it circulates”), Sanskrit चरति (cárati, “it moves, wanders”). Doublet of chakra, chakram, charkha, chukker, cycle, cyclus, and kike.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.