adj.
Pronunciation: k ə - ' p ə r-ni-k ə n, k ō -
Function: adjective
Etymology: Nicolaus Copernicus
Date: 1667
1 : of or relating to Copernicus or the belief that the earth rotates daily on its axis and the planets revolve in orbits around the sun
2 : of radical or major importance or degree <effected a Copernican revolution in philosophy ― Times Lit. Supp. >
– Copernican noun
– Co · per · ni · can · ism \ -k ə - ˌ ni-z ə m \ noun