water wheel
A water wheel turns slowly in a clear stream, lifting water into a wooden trough.
Noun: 1. A wheel that rotates by the direct action of water; a simple turbine: A mechanical device consisting of a large wheel fitted with paddles, blades, or buckets. The force of flowing or falling water against these components causes the wheel to rotate. This rotational energy was historically used to power machinery such as millstones, saws, or hammers. 2. A wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pond: A wheel designed to lift water, typically from a lower source to a higher irrigation channel. The wheel's buckets dip into the water source, fill, and are carried upward by the wheel's rotation to be emptied at the top.
- As a power source:
- For irrigation:
- Historical Context: The water wheel is a precursor to modern turbines and was a fundamental source of mechanical power during the pre-industrial and early industrial eras. Terms like "undershot," "overshot," and "breastshot" describe how water engages the wheel.
- An overshot water wheel is highly efficient as it uses the weight of the water falling into its buckets.
- Waterwheel (noun): An alternative, single-word spelling of "water wheel."
- Millwheel (noun): A water wheel specifically used to power a mill.
- Noria (noun): A specific type of water wheel used for lifting water, often associated with Middle Eastern and Spanish irrigation.
- For power generation: Watermill wheel, mill wheel.
- For water lifting: Persian wheel, sakia.
- To be driven by a water wheel: To be powered by this mechanism.
- The entire machinery of the forge was driven by a water wheel.
A water wheel turns slowly in a clear stream, lifting water into a wooden trough.
- a wheel that rotates by direct action of water; a simple turbine
- a wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pond