PINWHEEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pinwheel mean? 

• PINWHEEL (noun)
  The noun PINWHEEL has 4 senses:

1. perennial subshrub of Tenerife having leaves in rosettes resembling pinwheels

2. a wheel that has numerous pins that are set at right angles to its rim

3. a toy consisting of vanes of colored paper or plastic that is pinned to a stick and spins when it is pointed into the wind

4. a circular firework that spins round and round emitting colored fire

  Familiarity information: PINWHEEL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PINWHEEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perennial subshrub of Tenerife having leaves in rosettes resembling pinwheels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

Aeonium haworthii; pinwheel

Hypernyms ("pinwheel" is a kind of...):

subshrub; suffrutex (low-growing woody shrub or perennial with woody base)

Holonyms ("pinwheel" is a member of...):

Aeonium; genus Aeonium (a genus of plants of the family Crassulaceae)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A wheel that has numerous pins that are set at right angles to its rim

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he spun the pinwheel and it stopped with the pointer on 'Go'

Hypernyms ("pinwheel" is a kind of...):

wheel (a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A toy consisting of vanes of colored paper or plastic that is pinned to a stick and spins when it is pointed into the wind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

pinwheel; pinwheel wind collector

Hypernyms ("pinwheel" is a kind of...):

plaything; toy (an artifact designed to be played with)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A circular firework that spins round and round emitting colored fire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

catherine wheel; pinwheel

Hypernyms ("pinwheel" is a kind of...):

firework; pyrotechnic ((usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.)