Meaning of windmill in English

windmill

noun [ C ]
uk ​ /ˈwɪnd.mɪl/ us ​ /ˈwɪnd.mɪl/
picture of windmill

› a building or structure with large blades on the outside that, when turned by the force of the wind, provide the power for getting water out of the ground or crushing grain

picture of windmill

› a wind turbine

› US pinwheel a child's toy that consists of a stick with brightly coloured pieces of plastic at one end that turn around when you blow them or hold the toy in the wind

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

(Definition of “windmill” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"windmill" in American English

windmillnoun [ C ]
us ​ /ˈwɪnd·mɪl/

› a building or structure with large blades on the outside that, when turned by the force of the wind, provide electrical or mechanical power

(Definition of “windmill” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of “windmill”

These examples are from the Cambridge English Corpus and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Under this definition, windmills, water wheels, anemometers, and certain tree fruits and seeds are ' autorotating ' devices.
From Cambridge English Corpus
I have not yet seen an attractive nuclear power station or coal mine, never mind the issues about windmills and renewables.
From the
Hansard archive
I am told that 1,500 windmills 100 ft.
From the
Hansard archive
He only tilted at windmills, and he did it once.
From the
Hansard archive
I have two issues in mind, the first of which is the siting of windmills.
From the
Hansard archive
In addition, he proclaimed the huge splendour of the landscape of vast direct taxation cuts which would be opened up after disposal of the windmills.
From the
Hansard archive
I am not attracted to the proposal that we should all have windmills in our back gardens.
From the
Hansard archive
One cannot depend on windmills if the day is not windy.
From the
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Every prominent area would have three or four windmills of 60 m diameter.
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Hansard archive
Many environmentalists will say that windmills are a good form of energy because they do not disturb the landscape.
From the
Hansard archive
There are things like lychgates, stocks and pounds, and there are windmills, tithe barns, market squares and so on.
From the
Hansard archive
We cannot for much longer run society on windmills, and, therefore, oil prices may or may not fall.
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Hansard archive
Of course, windmills must be sited with care and environmental matters must be taken into consideration.
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We have 14 very beautiful, very elegant windmills, and artists are now beginning to come to paint them because they are so attractive.
From the
Hansard archive
I am sure that those picturesque windmills that he has on his land will have blown all the rats away.
From the
Hansard archive

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