Waterwheel: meaning, definitions and examples
💧🛠️
waterwheel
[ ˈwɔːtərˌwiːl ]
mechanical device
A waterwheel is a device that converts the energy of flowing or falling water into mechanical energy. It typically consists of a wheel with buckets or blades attached to its circumference, which capture the water. As the water flows over or through the wheel, it generates rotational motion. Waterwheels have been used historically in various applications, such as milling grain and powering machinery. They can be found in both horizontal and vertical orientations, depending on the type of water source and intended use.
Synonyms
hydraulic wheel, water mill, water turbine.
Examples of usage
- The old mill used a waterwheel to grind grain.
- Waterwheels powered many industries in the past.
- The design of the waterwheel allows for efficient energy conversion.
Translations
Translations of the word "waterwheel" in other languages:
🇵🇹 roda d'água
🇮🇳 जल चक्की
🇩🇪 Wasserturbine
🇮🇩 kincir air
🇺🇦 водяний млин
🇵🇱 młyn wodny
🇯🇵 水車
🇫🇷 roue à eau
🇪🇸 rueda de agua
🇹🇷 su değirmeni
🇰🇷 물레
🇸🇦 عجلة الماء
🇨🇿 vodní kolo
🇸🇰 vodné kolo
🇨🇳 水车
🇸🇮 vodni vrtiljak
🇮🇸 vatnsmiðja
🇰🇿 су дөңгелегі
🇬🇪 წყლის მილი
🇦🇿 su dəyirmanı
🇲🇽 rueda de agua
Etymology
The term 'waterwheel' has its origins in Old English, derived from the combination of 'water', which comes from the Proto-Germanic '*watar' and the Proto-Indo-European '*wódr̥', and 'wheel', which is linked to the Proto-Germanic '*hwehlaz' and the Proto-Indo-European '*kʷélh₁os'. Waterwheels have been used since antiquity, with evidence dating back to the Greco-Roman times in Europe and similar devices appearing in ancient China and the Middle East. These early waterwheels were crucial in the agricultural and industrial development of civilizations, providing a renewable source of power long before the advent of modern engines. The designs evolved over the centuries, leading to various forms such as the overshot, undershot, and breastshot waterwheels, each adapting to specific water flow conditions and mechanical requirements. Their decline in use began with the Industrial Revolution, as steam and electric power replaced water as the primary source of energy.