noun
flywheel
FLY-weel
Flywheel (noun) means a heavy rotating wheel or mass that keeps a machine running at a steady speed, or stores energy, as the energy supplied or released varies. Example: “The engine has a heavy flywheel to smooth out its power strokes.”
noun
1
mechanical engineering A heavy rotating wheel or mass that keeps a machine running at a steady speed, or stores energy, as the energy supplied or released varies.
"The engine has a heavy flywheel to smooth out its power strokes."
"A flywheel keeps turning for a while after the power is cut."
"Some designs store energy in a spinning flywheel."
How to use flywheel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA heavy spinning wheel that evens out a machine's speed.
When to use it
It is a technical term from engineering, used in everyday speech for engines.
Common pairings
engine flywheel
heavy flywheel
flywheel energy storage
spinning flywheel
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The engine has a heavy _____ to smooth out its power strokes.
Etymology
The word is a compound of fly and wheel.
Rhymes for flywheel
See all rhymes for flywheel →Frequently asked questions
What does a flywheel do?
It is a rotating mass that helps keep a machine's speed within limits. It can also store energy.
How does a flywheel store energy?
It stores energy in its rotation. It takes in energy as it spins faster and releases it as it slows.
Is a flywheel a type of wheel?
Yes. It is a kind of wheel, one designed to hold rotational energy.
What is the meaning of flywheel?
"flywheel" (noun) means a heavy rotating wheel or mass that keeps a machine running at a steady speed, or stores energy, as the energy supplied or released varies.
