driving wheel

noun

1. Machinery. a main wheel that communicates motion to others.
2. Also called driver. Railroads. one of the wheels of a locomotive that transmits the power of an engine or motor into tractive effort.

driving wheel

noun

1. a wheel, esp a gear wheel, that causes other wheels to rotate
2. any wheel of a vehicle that transforms torque into a tractive force

Word History and Origins

Origin of driving wheel¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The locomotive — known as a Heavy Pacific type, with three driving wheels on each side — was built in 1926 in Richmond, by the American Locomotive Co.

From Washington Post

The driver is still belted up and with a hand on the driving wheel.

From BBC

Sixty-eight-inch driving wheels powered by four cylinders larger than oil drums.

From Seattle Times

The driving wheel setup has been in the works for about the last two years.

From Forbes

Therefore, some kind of transmission must be devised to send power either to a propeller or to the driving wheels.

From New York Times