Windmills along river, Kinderdijk, Netherlands - stock photo

A windmill is a mill that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Centuries ago, windmills usually were used to mill grain (gristmills), pump water (wind pumps), or both. The majority of modern windmills take the form of wind turbines used to generate electricity, or wind pumps used to pump water, either for land drainage or to extract groundwater.