vane

Everyday

1. A weather vane is a pointer on top of a building that turns in the wind to show which way the wind is blowing. tree →
2. A flat blade, such as on a windmill or fan, that is turned by wind or water. tree →

In the lessons

Used in science and weather lessons: making a weather vane to find wind direction with a compass (N, E, S, W). On old churches and farms: a weather vane shaped like a rooster.

Examples

• The weather vane points north today. tree →
• We made a weather vane from a straw and a pencil. tree →
• The rooster on the church is a weather vane. tree →
• Wind turns the vanes of the windmill. tree →
• A weather vane shows where the wind comes from. tree →
• The vane spun in the storm. tree →

Note

Countable. Homophones: "vein" (a blood tube) and "vain" (too proud of your looks, or useless: in vain). A weather vane points to where the wind is blowing from.