Wiktionary
n. A wheel that transmits power to other elements of a mechanism.
Wikipedia
A drive wheel is a wheel of a motor vehicle that transmits force, transforming torque into tractive force from the tires to the road, causing the vehicle to move. The powertrain delivers enough torque to the wheel to overcome stationary forces, resulting in the vehicle moving forwards or backwards.
A two-wheel drive vehicle has two driven wheels, typically both at the front or back, while a four-wheel drive has four.
A steering wheel is a wheel that turns to change the direction of a vehicle. A trailer wheel is one that is neither a drive wheel, nor a steer wheel. Front-wheel drive vehicles typically have the rear wheels as trailer wheels.
Usage examples of "drive wheel".
The pistons thumped and jumped and the drive wheel spun like mad, as the long, superhero car passed others as if they were standing still.
Decreasing the drive wheel diameter is the only way of increasing long-term tractive effort which does not require that the boiler and firebox be enlarged to pay for it.
The bobbin usually has a whorl attached outside the far cop (or the far cop is a whorl), so that it can be turned by the drive wheel too.