ferris wheel

Giant spinning circle

A ferris wheel is a large rotating amusement ride consisting of a vertical wheel with passenger cars or gondolas attached around its rim.

Riders are carried in a slow circle, rising to considerable height before descending again.

The ride offers views and gentle thrills at carnivals, amusement parks, and fairgrounds: We rode the ferris wheel at sunset.

The term comes from George Ferris, the American engineer who designed the first one for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Also spelled Ferris wheel.

amusement

fairground

Outdoor amusement venue

  • carnivalTraveling amusement attraction
  • midwayEquidistant from both ends
  • ridesTravels aboard something

carousel · rollercoaster · bumper cars · tickets · cotton candy · popcorn · funnel cake · games · prizes · balloons

ride

gondola

Suspended transport cabin

harness · queue · boarding · operator · attendant · heights · ascent · descent · apex · revolution

view

panorama

Unobstructed wide-angle view

  • vistaPleasing distant scene
  • skylineUrban profile against atmosphere
  • horizonApparent earth-sky meeting

scenery · bird's-eye · aerial · sweeping · expansive · elevated · breathtaking · vantage · overlook · cityscape

rotation

revolve

Turn around center

  • spinRapid rotation around axis
  • turnRotational movement
  • axisRotation reference line

circle · orbit · cycle · motion · spoke · hub · rim · circumference · revolution · continuous

Categories
Opposites
amusement ride intensity

ferris wheelroller coaster

Track with dramatic plunges

drop tower · thrill ride · wild mouse · zipper · scrambler

Family

wheel, wheels, wheeled, wheeling

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G