windmillnoun/ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/

• 1

  A machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.

  • Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work.
• 2

  The building or structure containing such machinery.

  • There was once a windmill and a baker's shop in the middle of Rabbitland. Three rabbits, Rodney, Rudolph and Rosie lived in the windmill.
  • The home of the high-spirited French can-can has been laid temporarily low after the sails of the red-painted windmill on top of the Moulin Rouge, the most celebrated cabaret in Paris, tumbled inexplicably to the ground in the early hours.
• 3

  A wind turbine, a device for converting wind power into electricity.

  • “I never understood wind. You know, I know windmills very much. They’re noisy. They kill the birds. You want to see a bird graveyard? Go under a windmill someday. You’ll see more birds than you’ve ever seen in your life.”
  • “The other thing I say to Europe: we’ve – we will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States. They’re killing us. They’re killing the beauty of our scenery.”
• 4

  A child's toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when blown by a person or by the wind.

• 5

  ball-gamesbasketballgamesA dunk where the dunker swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball through the hoop.

• 6

  ball-gamesbaseballgamesA pitch where the pitcher swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball.

• 7

  entertainmentlifestylemusicA guitar move where the strumming hand mimics a turning windmill.

• 8

  dancedancinghobbiesA breakdancing move in which the dancer rolls their 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.

windmillverb/ˈwɪn(d).mɪl/

• 1

  To rotate with a sweeping motion.

  • She ran down the hill, windmilling her arms with glee.
  • The main thing now was to find the steering wheel. At first, Billy windmilled his arms, hoping to find it by luck.
• 2

  To (become disengaged and) rotate freely.

  • The axle broke and the wheel windmilled in place briefly before careening through the wall.
• 3

  aeronauticsaerospaceaviationTo (become disengaged and) rotate freely.

  • The stern dropped just as the captain began to get his control room crew to react to orders again. His head struck an instrument console. What slim hopes his crew had died with him. The Politovskiy was falling backwards, her propeller windmilling the wrong way as she slid to the bottom of the sea.
  • When he went to switch on his rotary engine again, the Le Rhone refused to pick up. Nothing happened! The propeller simply windmilled in the slip stream. Garros knew immediately what was wrong and cursed himself for his imbecility.
• 4

  slangTo move in order to rotate the penis in a circle (similar to the rotation of a windmill).