windmill

windmill
I. noun Date: 14th century 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 II. verb Date: 1914 transitive verb to cause to move like a windmill intransitive verb to move like a windmill; especially to spin from the force of wind

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Windmill — (Эрмоуполис,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Ano Syros, Эрмоуполис, 84100, Греция …   Каталог отелей

  • Windmill — (Аргасион,Греция) Категория отеля: 2 звездочный отель Адрес: Argasi, Аргасион, 29100, Греци …   Каталог отелей

  • windmill — [wind′mil΄] n. 1. a mill operated by the wind s rotation of large, oblique sails or vanes radiating from a shaft: used as a source of power for grinding grain, pumping water, generating electricity, etc. 2. anything like a windmill, as a… …   English World dictionary

  • windmill — windmill·er; windmill; …   English syllables

  • windmill — ► NOUN ▪ a building with sails or vanes that turn in the wind and generate power to grind corn, generate electricity, or draw water. ► VERB ▪ move (one s arms) in a manner suggestive of the sails of a windmill …   English terms dictionary

  • Windmill — Wind mill , n. A mill operated by the power of the wind, usually by the action of the wind upon oblique vanes or sails which radiate from a horizontal shaft. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • windmill — (n.) c.1300, from WIND (Cf. wind) (n.1) + MILL (Cf. mill) (n.). Cf. Ger. Windmühle, Du. windmolen, Fr. moulin à vent (13c.). Verb meaning to swing the arms wildly is recorded from 1927 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Windmill — A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails. The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of… …   Wikipedia

  • Windmill — Recorded in the spellings of Wind Mill, Windmill, and Winmill, this unusual and long established name is English. It is residential for somebody who lived or worked at a windmill, or who came from one of the various places called Windmill in… …   Surnames reference

  • windmill — /wind mil /, n. 1. any of various machines for grinding, pumping, etc., driven by the force of the wind acting upon a number of vanes or sails. 2. (loosely) a wind generator; wind plant. 3. Aeron. a small air turbine with blades, like those of an …   Universalium

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