water wheel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pond
    waterwheel.
  2. noun a wheel that rotates by direct action of water; a simple turbine
    waterwheel.

WordNet

Wa"ter wheel`
Definitions
  1. Any wheel for propelling machinery or for other purposes, that is made to rotate by the direct action of water; -- called an overshot wheel when the water is applied at the top, an undershot wheel when at the bottom, a breast wheel when at an intermediate point; other forms are called reaction wheel, vortex wheel, turbine wheel, etc.
  2. The paddle wheel of a steam vessel.
  3. A wheel for raising water; a noria, or the like.

Webster 1913