1. a wheel with a handle or handles attached to its rim, designed to be turned by hand to operate or control a machine, valve, or mechanism
Usage: common in industrial and mechanical contexts

Examples

• The operator turned the handwheel to adjust the valve pressure.
• The lathe's handwheel allows precise control of the cutting depth.
• She gripped the handwheel firmly and rotated it clockwise.
• The machine's handwheel was marked with measurement increments.
• Maintenance workers use the handwheel to manually operate the gate when power is unavailable.
• The steering handwheel on the old ship required significant force to turn.