Library / English Dictionary

FREEWHEEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A clutch (as on the rear wheel of a bicycle) that allows wheels to turn freely (as in coasting)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

clutch (a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Coast in a vehicle using the freewheel

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "freewheel" is one way to...):

coast (move effortlessly; by force of gravity)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

Example:

My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school

Synonyms:

drift; freewheel

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "freewheel" is one way to...):

exist; live; subsist; survive (support oneself)

Verb group:

drift (move in an unhurried fashion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

freewheeler (someone acting freely or even irresponsibly)

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