waterwheel

or wa·ter wheel

[ waw-ter-hweel, -weel, wot-er- ]
/ ˈwɔ tərˌʰwil, -ˌwil, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

a wheel or turbine turned by the weight or momentum of water and used to operate machinery.
a wheel with buckets for raising or drawing water, as a noria.
the paddle wheel of a steamboat.

Origin of waterwheel

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at water, wheel

Words nearby waterwheel

waterville, watervliet, waterward, waterway, waterweed, waterwheel, waterworks, waterworn, watery, watford, watkins

British Dictionary definitions for water wheel

water wheel

noun

a simple water-driven turbine consisting of a wheel having vanes set axially across its rim, used to drive machinery
a wheel with buckets attached to its rim for raising water from a stream, pond, etc