gyrate

[jahy-reyt, jahy-reyt, jahy-reyt]

verb (used without object)

gyrated, gyrating 

1. to move in a circle or spiral, or around a fixed point; whirl.

   Synonyms: pirouette, swirl, revolve, twirl, spin

adjective

1. Zoology.,  having convolutions.

gyrate

/ -trɪ, ˈdʒaɪrətərɪ, dʒaɪˈreɪtərɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to rotate or spiral, esp about a fixed point or axis

adjective

1. biology curved or coiled into a circle; circinate

Other Word Forms

• gyrator noun
• multigyrate adjective
• pseudogyrate adjective
• ungyrating adjective
• gyratory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrate¹

First recorded in 1820–30, gyrate is from the Latin word gȳrātus (past participle of gȳrāre to turn around). See gyr-, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrate¹

C19: from Late Latin gӯrāre, from Latin gӯrus circle, from Greek guros

Example Sentences

With a wink and a flick of her ponytail, Sue and six other dancers — all sporting shiny, one-piece leotards with gratuitous cutouts — begin to gyrate, thrust, and squat to throbbing electronic music.

From Salon

Then, after he talks himself out, he gyrates to the music, waving his veiny arms in the air.

From Salon

The team dressed in Santa hats and reindeer antlers, throwing the slowly gyrating microphone to each other to speak while candy canes floated around their heads.

From BBC

His Williams is always in motion: winking, gyrating, climbing in people’s laps.

From Los Angeles Times

Zendaya, clad in a skintight dress, gyrates on a dance floor in “Challengers,” a $56 million sports drama that arrived in multiplexes on Friday.

From New York Times

Related Words

• twirl 
• whirl