n. 1 a the forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system. b (in Marxism) the replacement of one ruling class by another; the class struggle which is expected to lead to political change and the triumph of communism. 2 any fundamental change or reversal of conditions. 3 the act or an instance of revolving. 4 a motion in orbit or a circular course or round an axis or centre; rotation. b the single completion of an orbit or rotation. c the time taken for this. 5 a cyclic recurrence. revolution counter a device for indicating the number or rate of revolutions of an engine etc. revolutionism n. revolutionist n.
[ ME f. OF revolution or LL revolutio (as REVOLVE) ]