re ‧ volve /rɪˈvɒlv $ rɪˈvɑːlv/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: revolvere 'to roll back, cause to return' , from volvere 'to roll' ]
to move around like a wheel, or to make something move around like a wheel ⇨ revolution , turn :
The wheel began to revolve.
The restaurant slowly revolves, giving excellent views of the city.
Using graphics software, you can revolve the image on the screen.
revolve around somebody/something ( also revolve round somebody/something British English ) phrasal verb
1 . [not in progressive] to have something as a main subject or purpose:
Jane’s life revolves around her children.
The argument revolved around costs.
She seems to think that the world revolves around her (=that she is the only important person) .
2 . to move in circles around something:
The moon revolves around the Earth.
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THESAURUS
▪ turn to move around a central or fixed point:
The wheels of the train began to turn.
▪ go around ( also go round British English ) to turn around a central point. Go around is a little more informal than turn and is very common in everyday English:
When the fan goes around, the warm air is pushed back downwards.
▪ revolve/rotate to turn around and around a central point. Rotate and revolve are more formal than turn and sound more technical:
The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.
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The stage revolves at various points during the performance.
▪ spin to turn around many times very quickly:
The ice skater began to spin faster and faster.
▪ whirl /wɜːl $ wɜːrl/ to spin around extremely quickly, often in a powerful or uncontrolled way:
The blades of the helicopter whirled overhead.
▪ twirl (around) to spin around quickly, especially as part of a dance or performance:
The couples were twirling around on the dance floor.
▪ swirl (around) to move around quickly in a circular movement, especially when the movement goes outwards or upwards from the center:
Her white skirt swirled around her legs as she danced.
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The leaves began to swirl around.
▪ spiral to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes around:
The smoke spiralled toward the ceiling.