vane
Rooftop direction pointer
A vane is a flat blade designed to catch wind or water, as in a windmill or turbine.
A weather vane pivots to show wind direction.
Vanes also appear on arrows and darts, where they stabilize flight.
The word shares ancestry with banner—both involve something that catches air and moves.
Wind direction indicator
- rooftopBuilding's top exterior surface
- spireTapering architectural peak
- cupolaSmall rooftop dome
- directionWay something faces
arrow · pointer · ornament · finial · silhouette · rooster · cockerel · horse
Feather used for writing
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- rachisCentral supporting shaft
- barbuleFeather barb's tiny branch
plume · pinion · flight · arrow · fletching · calamus · ornithology
Instrument measuring air velocity
- breezeLight, gentle air movement
- gustBrief wind surge
- galeSevere sustained wind
- zephyrMild, gentle breeze
airflow · draft · squall · tempest · windmill · turbine · rotation · spin
Graduated circular indicator
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- indicatorSign revealing status
- sensorInput-detecting device
- readoutDisplayed recorded data
display · meter · signal · detector · monitor · feedback · panel · dashboard
weathercock
Wind direction indicator
direction · arrow · pointer · ornament · finial · silhouette · rooster · cockerel · horse · cardinal
quill
Feather used for writing
barbule · plume · pinion · flight · arrow · fletching · calamus · ornithology
anemometer
Instrument measuring air velocity
zephyr · airflow · draft · squall · tempest · windmill · turbine · rotation · spin · velocity
dial
Graduated circular indicator
readout · display · meter · signal · detector · monitor · feedback · panel · dashboard · measurement
turbine
Blade-driven energy converter
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
- rotorSpinning mechanical assembly
- impellerPump's spinning blade assembly
windmill · rotation · pitch · angle · airfoil · compressor · generator · pump · ventilation · cooling
sail
Ship's wind-catching fabric
luff · rigging · mast · canvas · trim · sheet · halyard · clew
- archeryarrow, bow, bows, arrows, archer
- feathersfeather, feathers, plume, down feathers, quill
- windmillsblades, Dutch windmills, rotor, tower mill, sails
- rotating partsrotor, shaft, spindle, axle, flywheel
- adjustersadjuster, regulator, calibrator, tuner, dial
- turbomachineryturbine, steam turbine, gas turbine, wind turbine, water turbine
- weather vaneWind direction indicator
- wind vaneDirectional air current indicator