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Noun: windmill  'wind,mil
  1. A mill that is powered by the wind
     
  2. Generator that extracts usable energy from winds
    - aerogenerator, wind generator
     
  3. [Brit] A toy consisting of vanes of coloured paper or plastic that is pinned to a stick and spins when it is pointed into the wind
    - pinwheel [N. Amer], pinwheel wind collector [N. Amer]
Verb: windmill  'wind,mil
  1. Rotate one's arms with a sweeping motion
    "she ran down the hill, windmilling her arms with glee"
     
  2. (of a rotating part of a machine) become disengaged and rotate freely
    "The axle broke and the wheel windmilled in place"

Derived forms: windmilled, windmilling, windmills

Type of: generator, grinder, mill, milling machinery, plaything, toy

Encyclopedia: Windmill, Derbyshire