revolving

[ri-vol-ving]

See more synonyms for revolving on Thesaurus.com

adjective

that revolves: a revolving table top.
Machinery. noting or pertaining to a radial engine whose cylinders revolve around a stationary crankshaft, as the engine of a helicopter.

Origin of revolving

First recorded in 1690–1700; revolve + -ing²

Related formsre·volv·ing·ly, adverbnon·re·volv·ing, adjectiveun·re·volv·ing, adjective

revolve

[ri-volv]

verb (used without object), re·volved, re·volv·ing.

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.

verb (used with object), re·volved, re·volv·ing.

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.

Origin of revolve

1350–1400; Middle English revolven < Latin revolvere to roll back, equivalent to re- re- + volvere to roll, turn round

Related formsre·volv·a·ble, adjectivere·volv·a·bly, adverbun·re·volved, adjective

Can be confusedrevolve rotate¹

Synonyms for revolve

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1. orbit, circle. 2. See turn. 8. ponder, study.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for revolving

orbiting, whirling, spinning, reeling, rolling, turning, circling, pirouetting, rotary, gyral, gyratory, rotational, rotative, rotatory, vortical, vorticose, vertiginous

Examples from the Web for revolving

Contemporary Examples of revolving

Fed up of being surrounded by a revolving cast of affluent crashing bores, I vowed to get out more.
The Hell of the Hamptons: Why the Exclusive Hotspot Is a Mind-Numbing Drag
Robert Gold
August 18, 2014
Evolve a revolving roundtable of women, or men, with diverse, unpredictable views.
Is There Life Left in ‘The View’?
Tim Teeman
June 28, 2014
Outside, to the left of the revolving doors, is where he would smoke his after-dinner cigarette.
Michael Hastings' Hunger for Life
Jack Gray
June 14, 2014
His last few years have been a revolving door of corruption, scandal, resignation, and reinstatement.
The U.N.’s Next President Is a Gay-Hating Friend of Uganda’s Corrupt Dictator
Jay Michaelson
June 3, 2014
“At approximately 0240 hours, Mark Shand attempted to re-enter the hotel through the revolving doors,” Grimpel told BNO.
Camilla's Brother Died After Falling In Gramercy Park Hotel Revolving Doors
Tom Sykes
April 24, 2014

Historical Examples of revolving

He stood for a moment at the side of the door, revolving what was to be done.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
The coachman was revolving in his own mind the question of the boy's belongings.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri
It was a measure which he had long been revolving in his secret thoughts.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
At last I heard him revolving on his axis down the corkscrew staircase.
Wilfrid Cumbermede
George MacDonald
My sixth a cycle of revolving time,Which visits every nation, age, and clime.
Harper's Young People, June 15, 1880
Various

British Dictionary definitions for revolving

revolving

adjective

moving around a central axisrevolving door
(of a fund) constantly added to from income from its investments to offset outgoing payments
(of a letter of credit, load, etc) available to be repeatedly drawn on by the beneficiary provided that a specified amount is never exceeded

Derived Formsrevolvingly, adverb

revolve

verb

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

noun

theatre a circular section of a stage that can be rotated by electric power to provide a scene change

Derived Formsrevolvable, adjectiverevolvably, adverb

Word Origin for revolve

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 revolving

adj.

1690s, present participle adjective from revolve (v.). Revolving door attested from 1856 in industrial processes, 1896 in buildings.

revolve

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.