7 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Wheel \Wheel\, n. [OE. wheel, hweol AS hwe['o]l, hweogul
hweowol akin to D. wiel, Icel. hv[=e]l, Gr ky`klos, Skr.
cakra; cf Icel. hj[=o]l, Dan. hiul, Sw hjul. [root]218. Cf
{Cycle}, {Cyclopedia}.]
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. Any instrument having the form of or chiefly consisting
of a wheel. Specifically:
a A spinning wheel. See under {Spinning}.
b An instrument of torture formerly used
His examination is like that which is made by
the rack and wheel. --Addison.
Note: This mode of torture is said to have been first
employed in Germany, in the fourteenth century. The
criminal was laid on a cart wheel with his legs and
arms extended, and his limbs in that posture were
fractured with an iron bar. In France, where its use
was restricted to the most atrocious crimes, the
criminal was first laid on a frame of wood in the form
of a St Andrew's cross, with grooves cut transversely
in it above and below the knees and elbows, and the
executioner struck eight blows with an iron bar, so as
to break the limbs in those places, sometimes finishing
by two or three blows on the chest or stomach, which
usually put an end to the life of the criminal, and
were hence called coups-de-grace -- blows of mercy. The
criminal was then unbound, and laid on a small wheel,
with his face upward, and his arms and legs doubled
under him there to expire, if he had survived the
previous treatment. --Brande.
c (Naut.) 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.
d (Pottery) A potter's wheel. See under {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.
e (Pyrotechny) A firework which while burning, is
caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the
escaping gases.
f (Poetry) The burden or refrain of a song.
Note: ``This meaning has a low degree of authority, but is
supposed from the context in the few cases where the
word is found.'' --Nares.
You must sing a-down a-down, An you call him
a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes it! --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Wheel \Wheel\, v. i.
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. 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. To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass.
Then wheeling down the steep of heaven he flies.
--Pope.
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Wheel \Wheel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wheeled}; p. pr & vb n.
{Wheeling}.]
1. To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as to wheel
a load of hay or wood.
2. To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or
revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a
circle. ``The beetle wheels her droning flight.'' --Gray.
Now heaven, in all her glory, shone, and rolled Her
motions, as the great first mover's hand First
wheeled their course. --Milton.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
wheel
n 1: 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)
2: a handwheel that is used for steering [syn: {steering wheel}]
3: a wheel used to control the rudder of a vessel
4: a rotating wheel with slots that is used for gambling;
players bet on which slot the roulette ball will stop in
[syn: {roulette wheel}]
5: stretches, disjoints or mutilates victims [syn: {rack}]
6: has two wheels; moved by foot pedals [syn: {bicycle}, {bike}]
v 1: change directions as of revolving on a pivot; "They wheeled
their horses around and left" [syn: {wheel around}]
2: wheel somebody or something [syn: {wheel around}]
3: move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle [syn:
{roll}]
4: ride a bicycle [syn: {bicycle}, {cycle}, {bike}, {pedal}]
From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]:
wheel n. [from slang `big wheel' for a powerful person] A
person who has an active {wheel bit}. "We need to find a wheel to unwedge
the hung tape drives." (See {wedged}, sense 1.) The traditional name
of security group zero in {BSD} (to which the major system-internal users
like {root} belong) is `wheel'. Some vendors have expanded on this usage,
modifying Unix so that only members of group `wheel' can {go root}.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:
wheel
[slang "big wheel" for a powerful person] A person who has an
active {wheel bit}. "We need to find a wheel to unwedge the
hung tape drives." (See {wedged}).
[{Jargon File}]
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Wheel
(Heb. galgal; rendered wheel" in Ps 83:13, and "a rolling
thing" in Isa. 17:13; R.V. in both "whirling dust"). This word
has been supposed to mean the wild artichoke, which assumes the
form of a globe, and in autumn breaks away from its roots, and
is rolled about by the wind in some places in great numbers.
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