gyroscope

[ jahy-ruh-skohp ]

noun

1. an apparatus consisting of a rotating wheel so mounted that its axis can turn freely in certain or all directions, and capable of maintaining the same absolute direction in space in spite of movements of the mountings and surrounding parts: used to maintain equilibrium, determine direction, etc.

gyroscope

/ ˈdʒaɪrəˌskəʊp; ˌdʒaɪrəˈskɒpɪk /

noun

1. a device containing a disc rotating on an axis that can turn freely in any direction so that the disc resists the action of an applied couple and tends to maintain the same orientation in space irrespective of the movement of the surrounding structure Sometimes shortened togyro

gyroscope

/ jī′rə-skōp′ /

1. An instrument consisting of a heavy disk or wheel spun rapidly about an axis like a top. The angular momentum of the disk causes it to resist changes in the direction of its axis of rotation, due to the principle of conservation of angular momentum. Because of the gyroscope's tendency to remain oriented in one direction, it is used as a stabilizing device in missiles, as well as in the navigation and piloting systems of airplanes, ships, rockets, and other vehicles.

Derived Forms

• ˌgyroˈscopically, adverb
• ˌgyroˈscopics, noun
• gyroscopic, adjective

Other Words From

• gy·ro·scop·ic [jahy-r, uh, -, skop, -ik], adjective
• gyro·scopi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyroscope¹

First recorded in 1855–60; borrowed from the French word gyroscope, a combination of gyro- ( Greek gŷros meaning “ring, circle”) + -scope ( New Latin -scopium, from Greek skopeîn meaning “to look at”). It was coined by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1852, and so named because the purpose of a gyroscope is to show the rotation of the earth through the observation of a wheel on its axis.

Example Sentences

It relies on your location and input from the phone’s internal gyroscope to pinpoint constellations, passing satellites, and other objects.

From Popular-Science

Worry not, because it comes with a 6-axis gyroscope that allows you to have more stability and control over your drone.

From Popular-Science

A built-in gyroscope tracks your head movement to make it seem as if you’re moving in relation to the sources of noise.

From Popular-Science

The carmaker quickly designed the Ford Gyron, a big sedan with only one tire in the front and one in the back, the whole thing held erect by gyroscopes!

From Washington Post

I will confess that this did cause my internal gyroscope to precess a bit, but I am pretty much reconciled to the situation now, and there is certainly nothing to be done about it.

From Washington Post

We wanted him there because our conversation needed a gyroscope.

From The Daily Beast

Tilt the iPad and its internal gyroscope will throw bottles and pocket watches as if obeying gravity.

From The Daily Beast

One of the most successful of the recent applications of the gyroscope is in its connection with the marine compass.

From Project Gutenberg

He presented me, at different times, with a gyroscope, a kilogramme-weight and a lobster with a blue silk lining.

From Project Gutenberg

Another feature is the gyroscope compass, to which a passing reference has already been made.

From Project Gutenberg

We have but one means at our disposal, and that is the gyroscope.

From Project Gutenberg

The top that is most useful is the gyroscope top (Fig. 103).

From Project Gutenberg