windmill

[ wind-mil ]

noun

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. Aeronautics. a small air turbine with blades, like those of an airplane propeller, exposed on a moving aircraft and driven by the air, used to operate gasoline pumps, radio apparatus, etc.
4. an imaginary opponent, wrong, etc. (in allusion to Cervantes' Don Quixote ):

   to tilt at windmills.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Aeronautics. (of a propeller engine or turbojet engine) to rotate or cause to rotate solely under the force of a passing airstream.

windmill

/ ˈwɪndˌmɪl; ˈwɪnˌmɪl /

noun

1. a machine for grinding or pumping driven by a set of adjustable vanes or sails that are caused to turn by the force of the wind
2. the set of vanes or sails that drives such a mill
3. Also calledwhirligig a toy consisting of plastic or paper vanes attached to a stick in such a manner that they revolve like the sails of a windmill US and Canadian namepinwheel
4. an imaginary opponent or evil (esp in the phrase tilt at or fight windmills )
5. a small air-driven propeller fitted to a light aircraft to drive auxiliary equipment Compare ram-air turbine
6. an informal name for helicopter
7. an informal name for propeller

verb

1. to move or cause to move like the arms of a windmill
2. an informal name for accommodation bill
3. intr (of an aircraft propeller, rotor of a turbine, etc) to rotate as a result of the force of a current of air rather than under power

Word History and Origins

Origin of windmill¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; wind ¹, mill ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see tilt at windmills .

Example Sentences

During Rogan's lengthy chat with Trump, the Republican candidate mostly talked about windmills and, when prodded, the perceived Democratic "strategy" for allowing undocumented migrants to cross the border.

From Salon

Again, it has that visual thinking — the windmill going backward, and the umbrella scene, all the famous moments.

From Salon

While miniature windmills and Viking statues still abound in Solvang, the largest town in the Santa Ynez Valley, there’s a new crop of places to dine, taste wine and shop.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump hates windmills with the power of a thousand turbines.

From Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump spent Thursday in Michigan raving about bacon, windmills, Al Capone, trans boxers, nuclear war and, of course, his crowd size.

From Salon