From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvanevane /veɪn/ noun [countable] TPWa flat blade that is moved by wind or water to produce power to drive a machine
Examples from the Corpus
vane• A couple of minutes must pass before the accumulator vanes behind the hood re-energized the conductors and insulators.• The accumulator vanes within the hood energize the conductors and insulators of the capacitor to power this incandescent discharge.• The turbocharger is water cooled and its vanes are small to keep inertia down.• In kent, many vanes were completed with the Kentish horse motif and hunting scenes were popular.• Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary vane moved by wind.• The strange, fixed weather vane that stands in the lee of the vicarage at Rennes-le-Chateau.• From time to time decorative work was needed: railings, weather vanes, iron gates or scroll work.• Landman's Criterion Calm; smoke rises vertically Direction of wind shown by smoke drift but not by wind vanes.Origin vane Old English fana “flag” 