Definition

1. Noun:
   • A printing element: A "daisy wheel" is a circular component, typically used in older typewriters and printers, containing a set of radially arranged characters (letters, numbers, symbols) at the end of slender, petal-like arms. When activated, the wheel rotates to position the desired character, which then strikes an inked ribbon to make an impression on paper.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The daisy wheel printer produced high-quality, letter-perfect type.
  • To change the font on the typewriter, you had to swap out the entire daisy wheel.

Advanced Usage

• "daisy-wheel printer": A type of impact printer that uses a daisy wheel as its printing mechanism. This term is a compound noun where "daisy-wheel" functions as an adjective.
  • Daisy-wheel printers were prized for their crisp output but were very slow and noisy.

Variants and Related Words

• Print wheel: A more general term for a rotating disk with raised characters used for printing.
• Thimble printer: A related type of printer that uses a cup-shaped print element, similar in function to a daisy wheel.

Synonyms

• Print element: A general term for the component that forms characters in printing.
• Type wheel: A historical term for a rotating wheel bearing type characters.

Related Phrases

(This word is a specific technical noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs or idioms.)

Noun

1. a wheel around which is a set of print characters that make a typing impression on paper