I. rev ‧ o ‧ lu ‧ tion ‧ a ‧ ry 1 AC /ˌrevəˈluːʃən ə ri◂ $ -ʃəneri◂/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ revolution , ↑ revolutionary ; verb : ↑ revolutionize ; adjective : ↑ revolutionary ]
1 . completely new and different, especially in a way that leads to great improvements:
The new cancer drug is a revolutionary breakthrough.
a revolutionary new drug
2 . [only before noun] relating to a political or social revolution:
a revolutionary leader
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ new :
a new sports centre
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a new edition of the book
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an entirely new theory of time and space
▪ brand new completely new:
a brand new car
|
The house looks brand new.
▪ recent made, produced etc a short time ago:
recent research into brain chemistry
▪ the latest [only before noun] the most recent:
Have you seen his latest film?
|
the latest fashions from Paris
▪ modern different from earlier things of the same kind because of using new methods, equipment, or designs:
modern technology
|
modern farming methods
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a modern kitchen
▪ original new and completely different from what other people have done or thought of before, especially in a way that seems interesting:
The play is highly original.
|
His style is completely original.
▪ fresh fresh ideas, evidence, or ways of doing things are new and different, and are used instead of previous ones:
We need a fresh approach to the problem.
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They want young people with fresh ideas.
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Police think they may have found some fresh evidence that links him to the murder.
▪ novel new and different in a surprising and unusual way – used especially about a suggestion, experience, or way of doing something:
The club have come up with a novel way of raising cash.
|
The King was passionately in love, which was a novel experience for him.
▪ innovative completely new and showing a lot of imagination – used especially about a design or way of doing something:
an attractive website with an innovative design
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They came up with an innovative approach to the problem.
▪ revolutionary completely new in a way that has a very big effect – used especially about an idea, method, or invention:
a revolutionary treatment for breast cancer
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His theories were considered to be revolutionary at the time.
▪ new-fangled [only before noun] used about something that is new and modern but which you disapprove of:
My grandfather hated all this newfangled technology.
II. revolutionary 2 AC BrE AmE noun ( plural revolutionaries ) [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ revolution , ↑ revolutionary ; verb : ↑ revolutionize ; adjective : ↑ revolutionary ]
someone who joins in or supports a political or social revolution ⇨ rebel :
a band of young revolutionaries