Water wheel

·- The paddle wheel of a steam vessel.

II. Water wheel ·- A wheel for raising water; a noria, or the like.

III. Water wheel ·- 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.