Illustration of windmill
- windmill 1a
wind·mill
ˈwin(d)-ˌmil 
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
windmilled; windmilling; windmills
: to cause to move like a windmill
: to move like a windmill
especially
: to spin from the force of wind
Examples of windmill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
The ruins of a centuries-old windmill were recently unearthed in England, providing a window into the everyday lives of medieval farmers.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for windmill 
Noun
In addition, the lush and picturesque land has 6.35 miles of creek beds, 23 ponds, four water wells, miles of piped water, and 11 windmills.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
The ruins of a centuries-old windmill were recently unearthed in England, providing a window into the everyday lives of medieval farmers.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for windmill
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.
Dictionary Entries Near windmill
Cite this Entry
“Windmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windmill. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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