windmill
/ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.16 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.
noun
The building or structure containing such machinery.
noun
A child's toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when blown by a person or by the wind.
noun
A dunk where the dunker swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball through the hoop.
noun
A breakdancing move in which the dancer rolls their torso continuously in a circular path on the floor, across the upper chest, shoulders and back, while twirling the legs in a V shape in the air.
Example Sentences
- "Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work."
- "There was once a windmill and a baker's shop in the middle of Rabbitland. Three rabbits, Rodney, Rudolph and Rosie lived in the windmill."
- "The home of the high-spirited French can-can has been laid temporarily low after the sails of the red-painted windmill on top of the Moulin Rouge, the most celebrated cabaret in Paris, tumbled inexplicably to the ground in the early hours."
- "“I never understood wind. You know, I know windmills very much. They’re noisy. They kill the birds. You want to see a bird graveyard? Go under a windmill someday. You’ll see more birds than you’ve ever seen in your life.”"
- "“The other thing I say to Europe: we’ve – we will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States. They’re killing us. They’re killing the beauty of our scenery.”"
- "to fight windmills"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *h₂wḗh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *h₂wéh₁n̥ts Proto-Germanic *windaz Proto-West Germanic *wind Old English wind Middle English wynd Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *mélh₂ti Proto-Italic *melō Latin molō Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnus Latin molīnus Late Latin molīnabor. Proto-West Germanic *mulīnu Old English mylen Middle English mylne Middle English wyndmylne English windmill From Middle English wyndmylne, wyndmylle, equivalent to wind + mill. Cognate with Scots wyndmyln, wyndmyl, Saterland Frisian Wíendmäälne, West Frisian wynmûne, Dutch windmolen, Afrikaans windmeul, Dutch Low Saxon windmölle (Achterhooks), wiendmeule (Drents, Veluws), German Low German Windmöhl, German Windmühle, Danish vindmølle, Norwegian Bokmål vindmølle, Norwegian Nynorsk vindmølle, vindmylne, Swedish vindmölla, Icelandic vindmylla. (imaginary enemy): A reference to Don Quixote tilting at windmills.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: wyndmylne
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/
- British English: /ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/