gyrate

American  

[jahy-reyt, jahy-reyt, jahy-reyt] / ˈdʒaɪ reɪt, dʒaɪˈreɪt, ˈdʒaɪ reɪt /

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

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adjective

1. Zoology. having convolutions.

gyrate British  

/ -trɪ, ˈdʒaɪrətərɪ, dʒaɪˈreɪtərɪ /

verb

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

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adjective

1. biology curved or coiled into a circle; circinate

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of gyrate

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

Example Sentences

“That is keeping equities from gyrating too much.”

From MarketWatch

Stocks are gyrating as though there’s a full-blown crisis, while the S&P 500 is just 2% from its high.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Markets can gyrate and change their opinions regularly, erratically, and are often quite wrong,” said Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer of global fixed income, in emailed comments Friday.

From MarketWatch

Those bearing the structures often gyrate to the beat provided by percussionists alongside religious chants and devotional folk songs.

From Barron's

Delia is possessed by a ghoul who makes her sing the Caribbean number in the voice of Belafonte while she gyrates with her mortified dinner guests.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• twirl
• whirl