Meaning & use
handwheel
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
a wheel that a person turns by hand to control or adjust a machine or valve
Grammar: Countable: a handwheel, two handwheels. Often used with turn or operate.
Patterns
- turn a handwheel
- operate a handwheel
- a handwheel on something
Turn the handwheel clockwise to raise the drill table.
The valve is opened by a small handwheel on the side of the tank.
The operator adjusted the handwheel until the pressure gauge read normal.
Word forms
| plural | handwheels |
|---|
Common combinations
- turn a handwheel
- Turn the handwheel slowly to avoid damaging the thread.
- handwheel control
- The machine has a handwheel control for fine adjustments.
- adjust the handwheel
- Adjust the handwheel to set the correct depth.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- wheel noun
- a circular object that turns on an axle
Commonly confused: handwheel or flywheel?
handwheel vs flywheel
A flywheel stores energy and is not turned by hand; a handwheel is operated manually.
Practice
To open the valve, turn the ______ counterclockwise.
Choose one answer.
The singular countable noun handwheel is needed after the: turn the handwheel. Handwheels is plural and would need no the; handwheel's is possessive; handwheeled is not a standard word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “handwheel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.