Definition

1. Noun:

   • A gymnastic or acrobatic movement: A circular, sideways rotation of the body where a person lands on one hand, then the other, followed by the feet, with arms and legs extended like the spokes of a wheel.
   • A type of wheel: A large, simple wheel with wooden spokes and a metal rim, traditionally used on carts and wagons.
   • A silver dollar (U.S., informal, dated): A slang term for a large, silver one-dollar coin.

2. Verb:

   • To perform a cartwheel: To execute the acrobatic movement of turning one's body sideways in a complete circle, supported by the hands.

Usage and Examples

• As a Noun (Acrobatic Movement):
  • The gymnast finished her routine with a perfect cartwheel.
  • The children were doing cartwheels on the lawn.
• As a Noun (Wheel):
  • The old wagon had a broken cartwheel.
• As a Noun (Coin, informal):
  • He paid for the drink with a cartwheel.
• As a Verb:
  • She can cartwheel across the entire field.
  • They cartwheeled down the hill in celebration.

Advanced Usage

• "to turn cartwheels": An alternative phrasing meaning to perform cartwheels, often used figuratively to express great joy or excitement.
  • He was so happy he felt like turning cartwheels.
• The verb form is typically used intransitively (without a direct object).

Variants and Related Words

• Cartwheeling (gerund/noun): The action of performing cartwheels.
  • Her constant cartwheeling showed her boundless energy.

Synonyms

• Handspring (noun): A similar acrobatic move where the body flips forward or backward from hands to feet. (Note: A handspring involves a different body position and rotation than a cartwheel).
• Wheel (noun): The general term, but lacks the specific structural or acrobatic connotations.
• Silver dollar (noun): The formal term for the coin.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "To do/go into cartwheels": To react with excessive or frantic activity, often due to surprise or panic (figurative).
  • My schedule went into cartwheels after the meeting was canceled.
• While not a phrasal verb, the action is sometimes described with prepositions like "across" or "down" to indicate direction.
  • She cartwheeled across the stage.

Noun

1. a dollar made of silver
2. acrobatic revolutions with the body turned sideways and the arms and legs outstretched like the spokes of a wheel
3. a wheel that has wooden spokes and a metal rim

Verb

1. do cartwheels: perform an acrobatic movement using both hands and feet