cartwheel
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.”
How to use cartwheel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sideways rotating flip performed by hand, or (of a vehicle) to flip end over end.
Word forms
cartwheeled past tense, cartwheels plural, cartwheels singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
View more →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.