Main Difference
The main difference between Wind Turbine and Windmill is that the Wind Turbine is a device that converts wind energy into mechanical and electric energy and Windmill is a machine that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy.
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Wind Turbine
A wind turbine, or alternatively referred to as a wind energy converter, is a device that converts the wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy.
Wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of vertical and horizontal axis. The smallest turbines are used for applications such as battery charging for auxiliary power for boats or caravans or to power traffic warning signs. Larger turbines can be used for making contributions to a domestic power supply while selling unused power back to the utility supplier via the electrical grid. Arrays of large turbines, known as wind farms, are becoming an increasingly important source of intermittent renewable energy and are used by many countries as part of a strategy to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. One assessment claimed that, as of 2009, wind had the “lowest relative greenhouse gas emissions, the least water consumption demands and… the most favourable social impacts” compared to photovoltaic, hydro, geothermal, coal and gas.
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Windmill
A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades,
specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines and other applications.
Windmills were used throughout the high medieval and early modern periods; the horizontal or panemone windmill first appeared in Greater Iran during the 9th century, the vertical windmill in northwestern Europe in the 12th century.
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Windmill (noun)
A machine which translates linear motion of wind to rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.
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Windmill (noun)
The structure containing such machinery.
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Windmill (noun)
A child’s toy consisting of vanes mounted on a stick that rotate when blown by a person or by the wind.
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Windmill (noun)
A dunk where the dunker swings his arm in a circular motion before throwing the ball through the hoop.
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Windmill (noun)
A guitar move where the strumming hand mimics a turning windmill.
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Windmill (noun)
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.
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Windmill (noun)
Any of various large papilionid butterflies of the genus ver=190708, the wings of which resemble the vanes of a windmill.
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Windmill (noun)
The false shower.
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Windmill (noun)
An imaginary enemy, but presented as real.
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Windmill (verb)
To rotate with a sweeping motion.
“She ran down the hill, windmilling her arms with glee.”
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Windmill (verb)
Of a rotating part of a machine, to (become disengaged and) rotate freely.
“The axle broke and the wheel windmilled in place briefly before careening through the wall.”