revolution

[rev-uh-loo-shuhn]

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.

revolution

/ 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

revolution

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of revolution¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of revolution¹

C14: via Old French from Late Latin revolūtiō , from Latin revolvere to _revolve

Example Sentences

Where that’s all headed is anybody’s guess, just as it was half a millennium ago, early in the Gutenberg revolution of print.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The landlocked Central Asian country was once seen as the most democratic in the region, but Japarov has been criticised for backsliding since he came to power after a revolution in 2020.

Read more on Barron's

Robotics enthusiasts hailed it as the next logical step after the personal-computer revolution—a robot for every household.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This new wave of study says the revolution is happening in pockets more often than it’s taking hold across whole organizations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“By 9:30 a.m. I had a revolution on my hands. The chair said, ‘What are you doing?’

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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