noun
cartwheel
KAHT-weel
Cartwheel (noun) means a gymnastic move in which a person rotates sideways with arms and legs outstretched, briefly balancing on their hands. Example: “She did a perfect cartwheel across the gym floor.”
noun
1
A gymnastic move in which a person rotates sideways with arms and legs outstretched, briefly balancing on their hands.
"She did a perfect cartwheel across the gym floor."
verb
1
To perform this move, or to tumble end over end.
"The car cartwheeled off the road after hitting the barrier."
How to use cartwheel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sideways rotating flip performed by hand, or (of a vehicle) to flip end over end.
Common pairings
turn a cartwheel
do a cartwheel
the car cartwheeled
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Word forms
- Plural
- cartwheels
- Third person singular
- cartwheels
- Past tense
- cartwheeled
Fill the gap
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She did a perfect _____ across the gym floor.
Etymology
Literally a compound of "cart" and "wheel" — the gymnastic move is named for its resemblance to a turning wagon wheel.
Synonyms
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silver dollar
Rhymes for cartwheel
See all rhymes for cartwheel →Frequently asked questions
What does “cartwheel” mean?
The word “cartwheel” means a gymnastic move in which a person rotates sideways with arms and legs outstretched, briefly balancing on their hands. In plain terms, a sideways rotating flip performed by hand, or (of a vehicle) to flip end over end.
How do you pronounce “cartwheel”?
“Cartwheel” is pronounced KAHT-weel (/ˈkɑɹtˌwil/ in IPA).
How do you use “cartwheel” in a sentence?
Here is “cartwheel” used in a sentence: “She did a perfect cartwheel across the gym floor.”
What part of speech is “cartwheel”?
Depending on how it is used, “cartwheel” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “cartwheel” have?
“Cartwheel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gymnastic move in which a person rotates sideways with arms and legs outstretched, briefly balancing on their hands.
