I. ˌrevəˈlüshən also -əlˈyü- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English revolucioun, from Middle French revolution, from Late Latin revolution-, revolutio, from Latin revolutus (past participle of revolvere to roll back, revolve) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at revolve
1.
a.
(1) : the act of a celestial body of going around in an orbit or elliptic course ; also : apparent movement of such a body around the earth — usually distinguished from rotation
(2) : the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete round in its orbit
(3) : the rotation of a celestial body on its axis — not used technically
b. : completion of a course (as of years) ; also : the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events
c. obsolete : cycle , epoch
d. archaic : recurrence , repetition
e.
(1) : a progressive motion of a body around a center or axis such that any line of the body remains throughout parallel to its initial position to which it returns on completing the circuit
(2) : motion of any figure about a center or axis in which each point of the figure traces a circular arc of the same angular size about its projection on the axis as center
the revolution of a right-angled triangle about one of its legs generates a cone
(3) : rotation 1b
a bell rings for each revolution of the hectograph
2. : alteration or change in some matter or respect: as
a. : a sudden, radical, or complete change
a revolution in thought
: a basic reorientation and reorganization
a revolution in technology
b. : a fundamental change in political organization or in a government or constitution : the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed
c. : profound crustal movement involving mountain-making and other physical changes on a continent-wide or world-wide scale ; also : the interval of time during which such a movement occurs
3.
a. archaic : a turning over in the mind or in discussion : pondering , consideration
b. obsolete : a winding or curving form or course : twist , bend
Synonyms: see rebellion
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: revolutionize