Definition of windmill Windmill

/wɪˈndmɪˌl/ - [windmil] - wind•mill

We found 16 definitions of windmill from 7 different sources.

What does windmill mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: windmills
windmill - generator that extracts usable energy from winds
		aerogenerator, wind generator
		generator engine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction
windmill - a mill that is powered by the wind

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Wiktionary

windmill (Noun)
A machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.
windmill (Noun)
The structure containing such machinery.
windmill (Noun)
A child's toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when blown by a person or by the wind.
windmill (Noun)
A dunk where the dunker swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball through the hoop.
windmill (Noun)
A guitar move where the strumming hand mimics a turning windmill.
windmill (Noun)
The false shower .
windmill (Verb)
To rotate itself with a sweeping motion.
windmill (Verb)
Of a rotating part of a machine, to become disengaged and rotate freely.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

windmill (n.)
A mill operated by the power of the wind, usually by the action of the wind upon oblique vanes or sails which radiate from a horizontal shaft.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

windmill
A machine for grinding or pumping driven by a set of adjustable vanes or sails that are caused to turn by the force of the wind.

Proverbs DictionaryProverbs Dictionary 📗

windmill
You cannot drive a windmill with a pair of bellows.

Wikipedia

A windmill is an engine that is powered by the wind to produce energy. Often they are in a large building like traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. The energy windmills produce can be used in many ways, traditionally for grinding grain or spices, pumping water, sawing wood or hammering seeds. Modern wind power machines are used for generating electricity and are more commonly called wind turbines.

History.

A windwheel that operated an organ was described as early as the 1st century AD by the Greek engineer Hero. That could have been the first machine in history that used wind power. Vertical axle windmills were used in eastern Persia (Sistan) by the 9th century AD as described by Muslim geographers. Horizontal axle windmills of the type generally used today were invented in Northwestern Europe in the 1180s.

Early history.

The first windmills had long vertical shafts with rectangle shaped blades and appeared in Persia in the 9th century. The authenticity of an earlier anecdote of a windmill involving the second caliph Umar (634-644 AD) is questioned on the grounds of being a 10th century amendment. Made of six to twelve sails covered in reed matting or cloth, these windmills were used to grind corn or draw up water, they were quite different from the European versions. A similar type of vertical shaft windmill with rectangle blades, used for irrigation, can also be found in 13th century China.

Windmills in culture and literature.

Miguel de Cervantes' book "Don
disambiguation
A windmill is an engine powered by the sun to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills.