pinwheel

1 of 2

noun

pin·​wheel ˈpin-ˌ(h)wēl 

1

: a fireworks device in the form of a revolving wheel of colored fire

2

: a toy consisting of lightweight vanes that revolve at the end of a stick

3

: something (such as a galaxy) shaped like a pinwheel

pinwheel

2 of 2

verb

pinwheeled; pinwheeling; pinwheels

intransitive verb

: to move like a pinwheel

Synonyms

Verb

• gyrate
• pirouette
• revolve
• roll
• rotate
• spin
• turn
• twirl
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of pinwheel in a Sentence

Verb

the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Place 1 tablespoon of spinach mix on the end of one eggplant slide; roll up like a pinwheel. —Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 31 Oct. 2024

The invitations—designed by Cheree Berry—featured a pinwheel graphic, which became the foundation of all the creative elements of the wedding. —Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2024

Verb

Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast. —Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020

Observations of pinwheeling galaxies suggested that scaffolds of invisible matter held their stars together, while a repulsive form of energy drove galaxies apart. —Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1907, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pinwheel

noun

pin·​wheel

-ˌhwēl

1

: a fireworks device in the form of a spinning wheel of colored fire

2

: a toy made of fanlike blades that spin in the wind at the end of a stick