Windmill Meaning
/ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.
nounThe building or structure containing such machinery.
Sentence Examples
I had never seen a windmill until I visited the Netherlands.
Napoleon's headquarters were in an unused windmill.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used the rotating blades of the ____ to crush wheat into flour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient wooden ____ stood on the hill, its large sails turning slowly in the steady and very light breeze today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2013 July-August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in American Scientist:
"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."
— 1984, Hayden McAllister, Funny-bunny bedtime stories:
"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."
— 2024 April 25, Jon Henley, “Moulin Rouge windmill sails collapse in Paris”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
"“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.”"
— 2019 December 24, Richard Luscombe, quoting Donald Trump, “‘I never understood wind’: Trump goes on bizarre tirade against wind turbines”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
"“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.”"
— 2025 August 3, Adam Gabbatt, quoting Donald Trump, “‘He has trouble completing a thought’: bizarre public appearances again cast doubt on Trump’s mental acuity”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used the rotating blades of the ____ to crush wheat into flour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient wooden ____ stood on the hill, its large sails turning slowly in the steady and very light breeze today.