wheels
wheels — noun
1. a round object that turns on a central rod (called an axle); it is fitted under
a round object that turns on a central rod (called an axle); it is fitted under vehicles, carts, or machines so that they can move.
The front wheel of Ingrid's bicycle got stuck in a deep crack on the road.
A lorry with eight wheels rolled past the school gates at noon.
countable + number: [number] wheels
Mizuki replaced the rear wheel on her scooter after the bearing started grinding.
One of the suitcase wheels broke off during the flight to Taipei.
文法句型
wheel of [vehicle]
[adjective] wheel
on wheels
用法筆記
When talking about a vehicle's set of wheels, the plural 'wheels' is usually used (e.g., 'the car's wheels'). The singular 'wheel' refers to one individual round part.
常見錯誤
2. having wheels fitted underneath so that an object can be pushed or pulled along
having wheels fitted underneath so that an object can be pushed or pulled along a surface instead of being carried.
The hospital bed is on wheels, so the nurses can move it between rooms easily.
phrase pattern: [object] + is/are on wheels
Dahlia bought a large suitcase on wheels for her trip to Japan.
The heavy filing cabinet was placed on a small cart on wheels.
A mobile kitchen on wheels serves lunch at the construction site every day.
文法句型
[noun] on wheels
用法筆記
This sense only appears in the phrase 'on wheels' following a noun — it is not used alone to describe a single object (e.g., 'a wheels table' is incorrect).
常見錯誤
3. a round control found in cars and other road vehicles; the person driving holds
a round control found in cars and other road vehicles; the person driving holds it and rotates it to change which direction the vehicle goes.
Jack gripped the wheel tightly as he drove down the narrow mountain road.
Amani asked her brother to take the wheel so she could check the map.
idiom: take the wheel = start driving
Never text a message while your hands are on the wheel.
The driving instructor sat next to Talia and watched her hands on the wheel.
- steering wheel
the full term; 'wheel' is a shortening
文法句型
the wheel
take the wheel
behind the wheel
用法筆記
In this sense, 'wheel' is almost always singular (the wheel). The plural 'wheels' would not be used for this meaning, except when talking about multiple vehicles' steering wheels.
常見錯誤
4. a large wheel fitted on a ship or boat, used by the captain or a crew member to
a large wheel fitted on a ship or boat, used by the captain or a crew member to steer and decide which way the vessel goes.
The captain stood at the wheel and guided the ship through the narrow channel.
idiom: at the wheel = steering the boat
Constanza turned the ship's wheel hard to starboard to avoid the floating ice.
A young sailor took the wheel while the captain checked the navigation maps below deck.
The ferry wheel creaked as the helmsman turned it to keep the boat on course.
- helm
the technical nautical term for the steering apparatus of a ship
文法句型
the wheel
at the wheel
用法筆記
This sense is specific to boats and ships. For land vehicles, use sense 3 (STEERING WHEEL). The phrase 'at the wheel' can be used for both a ship's wheel and a car's steering wheel.
5. a car or other wheeled road vehicle, especially when referred to in a casual or
a car or other wheeled road vehicle, especially when referred to in a casual or admiring way; the word 'wheels' alone can stand for a person's car in informal slang.
Linh saved money for two years before she could afford her own wheels.
Nice wheels, man! Is that the new electric model from Tesla?
informal exclamation: 'Nice wheels!'
Hui asked his neighbour if he could borrow her wheels for the weekend trip.
After the engine failed, Ziad had to get new wheels to commute to work.
Ryo pulled up outside the cafe in his brand-new wheels.
Nice wheels! Ishaan said with a whistle as he looked at the red sports car.
文法句型
possessive + wheels
nice wheels
用法筆記
The word is always plural in this sense. Speakers use 'wheels' casually to refer to a car they own, admire, or need. Context makes clear whether 'wheels' means a car (most common) or another vehicle.
常見錯誤
6. a bicycle — a two-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing pedals with the
a bicycle — a two-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing pedals with the feet.
Sivan rides her wheels to the university campus every morning.
The old green wheels in the garage need new tires and a longer chain.
describing a bicycle as 'wheels'
A group of teenagers raced their wheels down the hill behind the park.
Jack pumps up the tires on his wheels every weekend before the group ride.
- bike
the most common informal alternative to 'bicycle'
文法句型
ride wheels
on wheels
用法筆記
This informal use of 'wheels' for a bicycle overlaps with sense 5 (CAR). Context usually disambiguates: if someone says 'I ride my wheels to school', they mean a bicycle, not a car.
7. a spinning disk with numbered slots used in the gambling game of roulette; playe
a spinning disk with numbered slots used in the gambling game of roulette; players bet on where a small ball will land as the wheel slows down.
The croupier spun the roulette wheel and the silver ball bounced between the numbers.
Ingrid watched the wheel carefully before placing her chips on number twenty-three.
collocation: spin the wheel
The casino replaced the old roulette wheel with a new electronic version.
Hui spun the prize wheel at the school fair and won a gift basket.
- roulette wheel
the full term; 'wheel' is a shortening used in context
文法句型
the wheel
spin the wheel
roulette wheel
用法筆記
This sense is specific to gambling contexts. Outside of a casino or game setting, 'wheel' does not carry this meaning.
8. the people, processes, or forces that keep an organization, system, or set of ac
the people, processes, or forces that keep an organization, system, or set of activities running and moving forward.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, but the truth eventually comes out.
figurative idiom: wheels of justice
Dahlia described the volunteers as the wheels that kept the charity centre open every day.
Without funding, the wheels of the research project would stop turning completely.
New ideas are the wheels that drive the technology industry forward each year.
文法句型
the wheels of [system/organization]
用法筆記
Always used figuratively and in the plural. Common collocations include 'the wheels of justice', 'the wheels of government', and 'the wheels of progress'. The image compares an organization to a machine that needs wheels to function.
常見錯誤
wheels — verb
- wheelspresent simple I / you / we / they
- wheelses3rd person singular
- wheelsing-ing form
- wheelsedpast simple
1. to push a wheeled item (such as a trolley, a suitcase, or a piece of furniture o
to push a wheeled item (such as a trolley, a suitcase, or a piece of furniture on a small platform) across a surface to get it where you want it to go.
Jack wheeled his heavy suitcase through the crowded train station in Osaka.
The nurse wheeled the patient into the operating room just before noon.
passive possible: be wheeled into [place]
Amani wheeled the shopping cart back to the supermarket entrance after unloading the bags.
The gardener wheeled a barrow full of soil along the path to the flower beds.
- carry
to lift and transport without wheels
文法句型
wheel + [object] + [direction/preposition]
wheel + [object] + into/out of/along
用法筆記
The object must be something that has wheels or is placed on a wheeled platform. Not used for pushing objects that slide or are carried (e.g., 'wheel the box' would be wrong unless the box is on a trolley).
常見錯誤
2. (of a bird or aircraft) to fly in a steady circular path, often while scanning t
(of a bird or aircraft) to fly in a steady circular path, often while scanning the ground or preparing to land.
A hawk wheeled above the field, watching for small animals in the grass.
Seagulls wheeled over the harbour as the fishing boats returned with their catch.
subject: birds; pattern: wheel over/above [place]
The small plane wheeled in the sky before lining up for the runway.
Vultures wheeled high above the canyon, riding the warm air currents.
文法句型
wheel + [adverb/preposition]
wheel above/over/around [place]
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively used for birds and aircraft. For people or land vehicles turning, use sense 3 (TURN QUICKLY) instead.
3. to turn around or change direction suddenly and quickly, as if spinning on a cen
to turn around or change direction suddenly and quickly, as if spinning on a central point.
Talia wheeled around when she heard her name called from across the street.
intransitive: wheel around = turn one's body quickly
The driver wheeled the van into a tight parking spot between two cars.
transitive: wheel + vehicle + into [position]
Ryo wheeled his bicycle sharply to avoid a pedestrian stepping off the curb.
The cat wheeled about and darted under the sofa when the dog entered the room.
文法句型
wheel around/round
wheel + [object] + around
用法筆記
The intransitive use (e.g., 'she wheeled around') is more common. The transitive use (e.g., 'he wheeled the car around') overlaps with sense 1 (PUSH OR MOVE) but emphasizes the sharp change in direction rather than the act of pushing.
4. to travel or move along a surface while riding in or on a wheeled vehicle — for
to travel or move along a surface while riding in or on a wheeled vehicle — for instance, cycling along a path, driving a car down a road, or riding a scooter past a building.
The ambulance wheeled into the emergency bay with its siren still wailing.
intransitive: vehicle + wheel + into [place]
Jiwoo wheeled along the canal path on her bicycle every morning before school.
intransitive: person + wheel + [direction] + on [vehicle]
A forklift wheeled past us carrying a pallet of boxes toward the warehouse.
Omar wheeled slowly around the corner on his scooter, watching for traffic.
文法句型
wheel along/down/through [place]
wheel into/past [place]
wheel + [direction preposition]
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive — the subject is the person or vehicle that is traveling, not the object being pushed. Distinguish from verb/1 (PUSH OR MOVE, transitive), where the subject pushes a wheeled object (e.g., 'she wheeled the cart'). In verb/4, the subject rides or drives the vehicle: 'He wheeled into the driveway' (he drove in) vs. 'He wheeled the cart into the driveway' (he pushed the cart in).