1. a wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pond • Syn: waterwheel • Hypernyms: wheel 2. a wheel that rotates by direct action of water; a simple turbine • Syn: waterwheel • Hypernyms: wheel • Hyponyms: millwheel, mill wheel, noria • Part Holonyms: water mill • Part Meronyms: bucket, pail