In reverse, place a rock in wheels (7)
I believe the answer is:
rotates
'wheels' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'in reverse place a rock' is the wordplay.
'in reverse' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'place' becomes 'set' (synonyms).
'rock' becomes 'tor' (a tor is a rocky peak).
'set'+'a'+'tor'='setator'
'setator' back-to-front is 'ROTATES'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for rotates that I've seen before include "Spins round" , "Turns round" , "revolves" , "Goes round" , "Takes turns" .)