/rev'euh looh"sheuhn/ , n.
1. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
2. Sociol. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, esp. one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence. Cf. social evolution .
3. a sudden, complete or marked change in something: the present revolution in church architecture.
4. a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point.
5. a single turn of this kind.
6. Mech.
a. a turning round or rotating, as on an axis.
b. a moving in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.
c. a single cycle in such a course.
7. Astron.
a. (not in technical use) rotation (def. 2).
b. the orbiting of one heavenly body around another.
c. a single course of such movement.
8. a round or cycle of events in time or a recurring period of time.
9. Geol. a time of worldwide orogeny and mountain-building.
[ 1350-1400; ME revolucion revolution- (s. of revolutio ), equiv. to revolut ( us ) (see REVOLUTE) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 5. cycle, circuit, round, rotation.