[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pinwheel/)

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# pinwheel

noun (a pinwheel, pinwheels); verb (pinwheel, pinwheeled — rare)

«pinwheel» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (US, Canada) A toy made of paper or plastic blades on a stick that spin round in the wind; in the UK called a windmill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#m1)
2. A firework that spins round, also called a Catherine wheel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#m2)
3. A round spiral shape, such as pinwheel sandwiches or biscuits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#m3)

### In the lessons

Children make pinwheels in science and DT lessons to learn about wind and energy. In art and cooking, a pinwheel is a spiral design, like rolled sandwiches cut into slices. On Bonfire Night, spinning fireworks are called Catherine wheels or pinwheels.

### Examples

- We made paper pinwheels to see which way the wind blows. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x1)
- My pinwheel spun faster when I ran. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x2)
- The Catherine wheel firework spun like a pinwheel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x3)
- Mum made pinwheel sandwiches for the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x4)
- The galaxy looks like a giant pinwheel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x5)
- Blow on the pinwheel and watch it turn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/#x6)

### Note

Countable. One word. UK English often says «windmill» for the toy. Firework safety: only adults should light fireworks.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pinwheel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pinwheel/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pinwheel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pinwheel.html) on Mova free.