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gyrostat

[jahy-ruh-stat]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gyrostat ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a modified gyroscope, consisting of a rotating wheel pivoted within a rigid case.

Origin of gyrostat

First recorded in 1875–80; gyro- + -stat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for gyrostat

gyroscope, spinner, whirligig

Examples from the Web for gyrostat

Historical Examples of gyrostat

  • But now remove the gyrostat from the frame, and set the wheel in rotation.

    Lord Kelvin

    Andrew Gray

  • There is, however, a great difference between the earth and the gyrostat.

    Spinning Tops

    John Perry

  • Here is a gyrostat (Fig. 23) something like the earth in shape, and it is at rest.

    Spinning Tops

    John Perry

  • It is not precessing, so you know that the weight W just balances the gyrostat F.

    Spinning Tops

    John Perry

  • Now close observation will give you a simple rule about the behaviour of a gyrostat.

    Spinning Tops

    John Perry

Word Origin and History for gyrostat
n.

1879, from gyro- + Greek statos "placed, standing," from PIE root *sta- (see stet).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper