watermill
watermill — noun
1. a small factory beside flowing water that uses the water's movement to turn a he
a small factory beside flowing water that uses the water's movement to turn a heavy wheel, which then powers the equipment for making flour from grain
The old watermill beside the River Avon still grinds wheat into flour every Saturday.
collocation: old / restored watermill + beside [river]
Hui visited a restored watermill and watched the wheel turn as water rushed past.
The village watermill, built in 1750, used the stream's current to power the grinding stones.
Amani learned that farmers brought wheat to the watermill to be ground into flour for bread.
Mauricio heard the watermill from half a mile away as its wheel splashed through the river.
- mill
a broader, more common term that can be powered by water, wind, electricity, or other sources; watermill is a specific subtype
- gristmill
refers specifically to a mill that grinds grain into flour, regardless of power source; a watermill may also power other types of machinery
- water wheel
refers only to the wheel itself, not the whole building with its grinding machinery
- windmill
uses wind rather than flowing water to turn its wheel
用法筆記
Frequently describes a historic or traditional rural building. Distinguish from windmill, where the wheel is turned by wind rather than moving water. The water wheel itself is the visible round structure on the outside, while the grinding machinery is inside the building.