revolve
[ri-volv]
- to move in a circular or curving course or orbit: The earth revolves around the sun.
- to turn around or rotate, as on an axis: The wheel revolves slowly.
- to proceed or occur in a round or cycle; come around again in the process of time; recur.
- to be revolved in the mind.
- to focus or center on.
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- to cause to turn around, as on an axis.
- to cause to move in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.
- to think about; consider.
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Origin of revolve
1350–1400; Middle English revolven < Latin revolvere to roll back, equivalent to re- re- + volvere to roll, turn round
Synonyms
See more synonyms for revolve on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for revolve
Contemporary Examples
Somehow, everything in the world has to revolve around men here, men and their parts.
In the 1980s and 1990s, blockbusters were star vehicles; now they revolve around brands (Marvel Comics) and concepts (vampires).
“Prison has taught me that the world does not revolve around me,” he says.
Like the Colosseum, Jep both stands above and is a part of the grotesqueries that revolve around him.
And not all of them revolve around white sins or a dishonorable moment.
Historical Examples
The dean paused to revolve the proposition, and then shook his head negatively.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
These rings acted as bearings on which the mast could revolve.
The Migrations of an American Boat TypeHoward I. Chapelle
The cogs and wheels of the machine began to revolve rapidly.
Philo Gubb Correspondence-School DetectiveEllis Parker Butler
Indeed, even while he was speaking the wheels of Fate had already begun to revolve.
The MissionaryGeorge Griffith
But the empire had extended too far west to revolve about that distant pivot.
A Short History of SpainMary Platt Parmele
revolve
- to move or cause to move around a centre or axis; rotate
- (intr) to occur periodically or in cycles
- to consider or be considered
- (intr ; foll by around or about) to be centred or focused (upon)Juliet's thoughts revolved around Romeo
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- theatre a circular section of a stage that can be rotated by electric power to provide a scene change
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin revolvere, from re- + volvere to roll, wind
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for revolve
v.
late 14c., "to change direction, bend around, turn (the eyes) back," from Old French revolver and directly from Latin revolvere "roll back, unroll, unwind; happen again, return; go over, repeat," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + volvere "to roll" (see volvox). In 15c., "to turn over (in the mind or heart), meditate." Meaning "travel around a central point" first recorded 1660s (earlier "cause to travel in an orbit around a central point," mid-15c.). Related: Revolved; revolving.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper