: 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
Iconic landmark Moulin Rouge’s 135-year-old windmill blades collapse The cause is not yet known, but extensive investigations will now follow.—Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2024 Fishermen’s prospects are further hampered by efforts to erect windmill farms and to save the planet’s last three hundred and sixty or so North Atlantic right whales, which can get tangled in fishing ropes.—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024
Verb
All the same, Antonoff wears muscle shirts onstage and jumps off stacks of amps and pumps his fist in the air and plays windmill chords on his Gretsch Princess guitar.—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 The young center fielder stepped out of the batter’s box, grabbing at her shoulder, trying to windmill her arm in tiny circles.—Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 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.
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