windmill

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a modern machine with blades that turns wind into electricity.

n. a wind turbine used for power generation; technically distinct from a mill but frequently used as a synonym in general discourse.

“The fields were filled with giant white windmills producing clean energy.”

“While engineers prefer the term 'wind turbine', the local community often refers to the offshore energy farm as a collection of windmills.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a small toy on a stick with paper or plastic blades that spin when you blow on them.

n. a child's toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when exposed to air currents.

“The toddler laughed as the colorful windmill spun around in the breeze.”

“Vendors at the seaside boardwalk sold bright plastic windmills that blurred into rainbows when the children ran along the sand.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a movement where you swing your arms or legs in a large circle.

n. a kinetic movement in sports, dance, or music characterized by a full 360-degree rotation of the limbs.

“The guitarist finished the song with a dramatic windmill across the strings.”

“The breakdancer executed a flawless windmill, transitioning from the floor rotation into a headspin without losing momentum.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. an enemy that is not real, but someone treats it as if it is.

n. an imaginary or perceived opponent, typically used in the idiom 'tilting at windmills'.

“He spent his life fighting windmills, arguing against problems that didn't exist.”

“The politician was accused of tilting at windmills, wasting public resources on a perceived threat that had no basis in reality.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to move your arms or legs in large, fast circles.

v. to move or rotate with a sweeping, circular motion, often uncontrollably.

“He fell off the boat, his arms windmilling as he tried to stay balanced.”

“The cyclist's legs continued to windmill frantically even after the chain had snapped, leaving him unable to maintain his speed on the incline.”