windmill

1 of 2

noun

wind·​mill ˈwin(d)-ˌmil How to pronounce windmill (audio)
1
a
: a mill or machine operated by the wind usually acting on oblique vanes or sails that radiate from a horizontal shaft
especially : a wind-driven water pump or electric generator
b
: the wind-driven wheel of a windmill
2
: something that resembles or suggests a windmill
especially : a calisthenic exercise that involves alternately lowering each outstretched hand to touch the toes of the opposite foot
3
[from the episode in Don Quixote by Cervantes in which the hero attacks windmills under the illusion that they are giants] : an imaginary wrong, evil, or opponent
usually used in the phrase to tilt at windmills

Illustration of windmill

Illustration of windmill
  • windmill 1a

windmill

2 of 2

verb

windmilled; windmilling; windmills

transitive verb

: to cause to move like a windmill

intransitive verb

: to move like a windmill
especially : to spin from the force of wind

Examples of windmill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As the pandemic lifted, Culp’s lean initiatives at aerospace, power, and the other units substantially lowered the costs of making the likes of jet engines, boilers, and windmills. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024 Several participants, including students from a U.S. elementary school, worked together to build a windmill using materials commonly found around the house or classroom. IEEE Spectrum, 20 Feb. 2024 Instead of fighting windmills, Quijano fights the giant white surveillance balloons that patrol the West Texas skies. Luis G. Rendon, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 An entrance to the project near the school was nixed and a windmill was reduced in height from 76 feet to 36 feet with a prohibition on a wind turbine. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2024 Murray plays an ex-boyfriend who must help rescue a local windmill in Christmas on Windmill Way, and Glee star Morrison heads to the city of (Christmas) lights for a dance competition in A Paris Christmas Waltz. EW.com, 21 Nov. 2023 Burks' windmill dunk with 3:56 left put the Wildcats at the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season leading to more cheers from the predominantly Kentucky blue crowd. Teresa M. Walker, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2024 Ancient fortresses, wine presses, windmills, castles, mosques and marketplaces offer traces of the marauding powers who have been drawn to this desirable trading post through the ages. Rachel Howard, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Feb. 2024 The windmill sits on the high point of Quail Hill and was built in the mid-1800s. Mark David, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Verb
All the same, Antonoff wears muscle shirts onstage and jumps off stacks of amps and pumps his fist in the air and plays windmill chords on his Gretsch Princess guitar. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 The young center fielder stepped out of the batter’s box, grabbing at her shoulder, trying to windmill her arm in tiny circles. Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 On his first dunk, Green relied on Rockets rookie teammate Josh Christopher to deliver a pass to him off the side of the backboard while Green raced down the baseline, attempted to catch the ball, put it between his legs then windmill it home. Matt Young, Chron, 19 Feb. 2022 The town’s only grocery store is down the road, and beyond that, windmills tower over distant hills. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 24 May 2020 But as batteries, solar panels, and windmills all continue to get cheaper and more efficient, that calculus should change. Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 22 May 2020 But has anyone in dunk-contest history snatched a pass one-handed, spun midair — keeping control of the ball — and windmilled it into the hoop with such vengeance? Phil Thompson, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020 Singer Roger Daltrey, windmilling guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon were 15 years away from induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — which itself wasn’t even an idea at the time. Chuck Yarborough, cleveland.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Look for the Pancakes & Waffles windmills in front of Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Liz Biro, Indianapolis Star, 7 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'windmill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of windmill was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near windmill

Cite this Entry

“Windmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windmill. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

windmill

noun
wind·​mill
ˈwin(d)-ˌmil
: a mill or a machine (as for pumping water) worked by the wind turning sails or vanes at the top of a tower

More from Merriam-Webster on windmill

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