–noun

1.	a habitual practice; the usual way of acting in given circumstances.

2.	habits or usages collectively; convention.

3.	a practice so long established that it has the force of law.

4.	such practices collectively.

5.	Sociology. a group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to another.

6.	toll; duty.

7.

customs, a. (used with a singular or plural verb) duties imposed by law on imported or, less commonly, exported goods. b. (used with a singular verb) the government department that collects these duties. c. (used with a singular verb) the section of an airport, station, etc., where baggage is checked for contraband and for goods subject to duty.

8.	regular patronage of a particular shop, restaurant, etc.

9.	the customers or patrons of a business firm, collectively.

10.	the aggregate of customers.

11.	(in medieval Europe) a customary tax, tribute, or service owed by peasants to their lord.

–adjective

12.	made specially for individual customers: custom shoes.

13.	dealing in things so made, or doing work to order: a custom tailor.

–noun

1.	a circular frame or disk arranged to revolve on an axis, as on or in vehicles or machinery.

2.	any machine, apparatus, instrument, etc., shaped like this or having a circular frame, disk, or revolving drum as an essential feature: a potter's wheel; roulette wheel; spinning wheel.

3.	steering wheel.

4.	Nautical. a. a circular frame with an axle connecting to the rudder of a ship, for steering: He took the wheel during the storm. b. a paddle wheel. c. a propeller.

5.	Informal. a bicycle.

6.	a round object, decoration, etc.: a wheel of cheese; a design of red wheels and blue squares.

7.	an old instrument of torture in the form of a circular frame on which the victim was stretched until disjointed.

8.	a circular firework that revolves rapidly while burning; pinwheel.

9.	a rotating instrument that Fortune is represented as turning in order to bring about changes or reverses in human affairs.

10.	wheels, a. moving, propelling, or animating agencies: the wheels of commerce; the wheels of thought. b. Slang. a personal means of transportation, esp. a car.

11.	a cycle, recurring action, or steady progression: the wheel of days and nights.

12.	a wheeling or circular movement: the intricate wheels of the folk dances.

13.	(formerly) a movement of troops, ships, etc., drawn up in line, as if turning on a pivot.

14.	Informal. someone active and influential, as in business, politics, etc.; an important person: a big wheel.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to cause to turn, rotate, or revolve, as on an axis.

16.	to perform (a movement) in a circular or curving direction.

17.	to move, roll, or convey on wheels, casters, etc.: The servants wheel the tables out.

18.	to provide (a vehicle, machine, etc.) with wheels.

–verb (used without object)

19.	to turn on or as on an axis or about a center; revolve, rotate, or pivot.

20.	to move in a circular or curving course: pigeons wheeling above.

21.	to turn so as to face in a different direction (often fol. by about or around): He wheeled about and faced his opponent squarely.

22.	to change one 3e8 's opinion or procedure (often fol. by about or around): He wheeled around and argued for the opposition.

23.	to roll along on or as on wheels; travel along smoothly: The car wheeled along the highway.

24.	British Military. to turn: Right wheel!

—Idioms

25.	at the wheel, a. at the helm of a ship, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, etc. b. in command or control: Her ambition is to be at the wheel of a large corporation by the age of 40.

26.	hell on wheels. hell (def. 19).

27.	spin one's wheels, Informal. to expend or waste effort to no avail: He spun his wheels on that project for two years.

28.	wheel and deal, Informal. to operate dynamically for one's own profit or benefit.

29.	wheels within wheels, an involved interaction of motives or agencies operating to produce the final result: Government agencies are a study of wheels within wheels.