revolution

American  

[rev-uh-loo-shuhn] / ˌrɛv əˈlu ʃən /

noun

1. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.

2. Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence.

3. a sudden, complete or marked change in something.

   the present revolution in church architecture.

4. a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point.

5. a single turn of this kind.

   Synonyms:

   rotation, round, circuit, cycle

6. Mechanics.

   1. a turning round or rotating, as on an axis.

   2. a moving in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.

   3. a single cycle in such a course.

7. Astronomy.

   1. (not in technical use) rotation.

   2. the orbiting of one heavenly body around another.

   3. a single course of such movement.

8. a round or cycle of events in time or a recurring period of time.

9. Geology. a time of worldwide orogeny and mountain-building.

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revolution British  

/ ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the overthrow or repudiation of a regime or political system by the governed

2. (in Marxist theory) the violent and historically necessary transition from one system of production in a society to the next, as from feudalism to capitalism

3. a far-reaching and drastic change, esp in ideas, methods, etc

4. 1. movement in or as if in a circle

   2. one complete turn in such a circle

      a turntable rotating at 33 revolutions per minute

5. 1. the orbital motion of one body, such as a planet or satellite, around another Compare rotation

   2. one complete turn in such motion

6. a cycle of successive events or changes

7. obsolete geology a profound change in conditions over a large part of the earth's surface, esp one characterized by mountain building

   an orogenic revolution

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revolution Scientific  

/ rĕv′ə-lo̅o̅′shən /

1. The motion of an object around a point, especially around another object or a center of mass.

2. A single complete cycle of such motion.

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Usage

In everyday speech revolution and rotation are often used as synonyms, but in science they are not synonyms and have distinct meanings. The difference between the two terms lies in the location of the central axis that the object turns about. If the axis is outside the body itself—that is, if the object is orbiting about another object—then one complete orbit is called a revolution. But if the object is turning about an axis that passes through itself, then one complete cycle is called a rotation. This difference is often summed up in the statement “Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.”

Other Word Forms

• antirevolution adjective
• nonrevolution noun
• postrevolution adjective
• prorevolution adjective
• semirevolution noun

Etymology

Origin of revolution

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revolucion, from Late Latin revolūtiōn-, stem of revolūtiō “rollback, rotation”; equivalent to revolute + -ion

Example Sentences

Picking a winner may be difficult, but backing the suppliers and retailers enabling the ecosystem could be the smarter way to play the smart glasses revolution.

From Barron's

The end of the Universal Credit rollout marks an important milestone in the revolution that was seeded in the east end of Glasgow.

From BBC

The revolution in American technology introduced in the Desert Storm air campaign partially solved this challenge.

From The Wall Street Journal

How many tech revolutions will we experience in another 36 years?

From The Wall Street Journal

The MEK opposed the rule of the shah and initially supported the 1979 Islamic revolution but rapidly fell out with the new clerical leadership in the 1980s.

From Barron's

Related Words

• coup
• innovation
• insurgency
• mutiny
• rebellion
• revolt
• shift
• strike
• transformation
• turmoil
• unrest
• upheaval
• uprising
• violence