windfarm
B2Technical, Environmental, Business
Definition
Meaning
A group of wind turbines in one location used to generate electricity.
An area of land or water developed for the purpose of harnessing wind energy on a commercial or industrial scale, often as part of a renewable energy strategy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a closed compound noun; often used interchangeably with 'wind farm' (two words). The compound form is increasingly common. Refers to the installation itself, not just the turbines.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. 'Windfarm' as a single word is more common in British technical writing, while 'wind farm' (two words) is slightly more frequent in general American English.
Connotations
Neutral-to-positive in environmental contexts; may have negative connotations related to landscape impact and NIMBYism in local community discussions.
Frequency
Moderately high frequency in news, policy, and environmental science texts in both regions due to focus on renewable energy.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + windfarm (e.g., build, oppose, approve)[Adjective] + windfarm (e.g., offshore, proposed, operational)windfarm + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., in the North Sea, on the hill)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A forest of turbines (descriptive, not a fixed idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company invested heavily in the new offshore windfarm to diversify its energy portfolio.
Academic
The study analyses the impact of large-scale windfarms on local avian populations.
Everyday
You can see the windfarm on the hills from our kitchen window.
Technical
The windfarm's 3.6 MW turbines are connected to the grid via a subsea cable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The land will be windfarmed (rare, but possible technical derivation).
American English
- They plan to windfarm the coastal region (rare).
adjective
British English
- The windfarm proposal was met with local opposition.
American English
- They attended a windfarm development meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The windfarm has many big fans.
- The new windfarm will provide power for thousands of homes.
- Despite local protests, the government approved the construction of the offshore windfarm.
- The economic viability of the proposed windfarm hinges on long-term subsidies and grid connection costs.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FARM that grows electricity from the WIND instead of crops.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENERGY IS A CROP (harvested from the wind).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like *'ветряная ферма'*. The standard translation is 'ветряная электростанция' (wind power station) or 'парк ветрогенераторов' (park of wind generators).
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as 'windform' or 'wind farm' (acceptable variant but may be marked as inconsistent in a text using the closed compound).
- Using plural 'windfarms' incorrectly as an adjective (e.g., 'windfarms development' should be 'windfarm development').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key feature of a windfarm?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'windfarm' (closed compound) and 'wind farm' (open compound) are used. The closed compound is standard in many dictionaries and technical contexts, especially in British English.
Its primary purpose is to generate electricity on a commercial scale by converting wind energy using an array of wind turbines.
No, they are built both onshore (on land) and offshore (in bodies of water, usually the sea). Offshore windfarms often have higher capacity due to stronger, more consistent winds.
Common criticisms include visual impact on landscapes, potential harm to birds and bats, noise pollution for nearby residents, and high initial investment costs.