windmill

Noun

1. A machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.
2. The building or structure containing such machinery.
3. (colloquial, proscribed) A wind turbine, a device for converting wind power into electricity.
4. A child's toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when blown by a person or by the wind.
5. A dunk where the dunker swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball through the hoop.
6. A pitch where the pitcher swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball.
7. A guitar move where the strumming hand mimics a turning windmill.
8. A breakdancing move in which the dancer rolls his/her 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.
9. Any of various muscle exercises in which a large deal of the body makes a great circle, typically one where a kettlebell is raised overhead and the torso is rotated to the other side with the hand reaching its foot (hitting the core, glutes, hamstrings, trapezius, rhomboids, deltoids and rotator cuffs) but sometimes even a windshield wiper.
10. Any of various large papilionid butterflies of the genus Byasa, the wings of which resemble the vanes of a windmill.
11. The false shower.
12. (figuratively) An imaginary enemy, but presented as real.
13. The act of windmilling.

Verb

1. (intransitive, transitive) To rotate with a sweeping motion.
2. (intransitive) To (become disengaged and) rotate freely.
3. (intransitive) To (become disengaged and) rotate freely.
4. To move in order to rotate the penis in a circle (similar to the rotation of a windmill).

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɪnd.mɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wyndmylne

Cognate with Scots: wyndmyln

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Wíendmäälne

Cognate with Western Frisian: wynmûne

Cognate with Dutch: windmolen

Cognate with Afrikaans: windmeul

Cognate with German: Windmühle

Cognate with Danish: vindmølle

Cognate with Norwegian Bokmål: vindmølle

Cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk: vindmølle

Cognate with Swedish: vindmölla

Cognate with Icelandic: vindmylla

In summary

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.

Synonyms

wind generator

aerogenerator

pinwheel

accommodation bill

wind turbine

wind-wheel

post mill

rotating wheel

pump

turbine

waterwheel

Translations

Windmühle

moulin à vent

molino de viento

windmolen

ανεμόμυλος

mulino a vento

wiatrak

moinho de vento

molí de vent

windmolentje

cata-vento

moulin

éolienne

طاحونة هوائية

molinete