revolution

[rev-uh-loo-shuh n] /ˌrɛv əˈlu ʃən/
noun
1.
an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
2.
Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence.
Compare 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.
Mechanics.
  1. a turning round or rotating, as on an axis.
  2. a moving in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.
  3. a single cycle in such a course.
7.
Astronomy.
  1. (not in technical use) rotation (def 2).
  2. the orbiting of one heavenly body around another.
  3. a single course of such movement.
8.
a round or cycle of events in time or a recurring period of time.
9.
Geology. a time of worldwide orogeny and mountain-building.
Origin of revolution
1350-1400; Middle English revolucion < Late Latin revolūtiōn- (stem of revolūtiō), equivalent to revolūt(us) (see revolute) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
antirevolution, adjective
nonrevolution, noun
postrevolution, adjective
prorevolution, adjective
semirevolution, noun
Can be confused
rebellion, revolt, revolution.
Synonyms
5. cycle, circuit, round, rotation.
Examples from the web for revolution
  • But a little more than a century ago, x-ray machines provided a revolution in medicine, allowing doctors to look inside the body.
  • The third revolution was the shift from manufacturing to services.
  • He was correct, although this revolution in naval warfare was preceded by a gradual evolution.
  • How a history professor became the pioneer of the for-profit revolution.
  • Furthermore, a tech gap may well be increasing in an age of social-media revolution.
  • It's tough to keep talking revolution when the powers-that-be keep acceding to your demands.
  • Clearly this is setting the stage for a literary revolution.
  • But he did argue that higher education is ripe for revolution.
  • The electronic medical-record revolution is upon us.
  • In letters to divers correspondents he evinced growing and confident enthusiasm for the burgeoning revolution.
British Dictionary definitions for revolution

revolution

/ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/
noun
1.
the overthrow or repudiation of a regime or political system by the governed
2.
(in Marxist theory) the violent and historically necessary transition from one system of production in a society to the next, as from feudalism to capitalism
3.
a far-reaching and drastic change, esp in ideas, methods, etc
4.
  1. movement in or as if in a circle
  2. one complete turn in such a circle: a turntable rotating at 33 revolutions per minute
5.
  1. the orbital motion of one body, such as a planet or satellite, around another Compare rotation (sense 5a)
  2. one complete turn in such motion
6.
a cycle of successive events or changes
7.
(geology, obsolete) a profound change in conditions over a large part of the earth's surface, esp one characterized by mountain building: an orogenic revolution
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Late Latin revolūtiō, from Latin revolvere to revolve
Word Origin and History for revolution
n.

late 14c., originally of celestial bodies, from Old French revolucion "course, revolution (of celestial bodies)" (13c.), or directly from Late Latin revolutionem (nominative revolutio) "a revolving," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin revolvere "turn, roll back" (see revolve).

General sense of "instance of great change in affairs" is recorded from mid-15c. Political meaning "overthrow of an established political system" first recorded c.1600, derived from French, and was especially applied to the expulsion of the Stuart dynasty under James II in 1688 and transfer of sovereignty to William and Mary.

revolution in Science
revolution
  (rěv'ə-l'shən)   

  1. The motion of an object around a point, especially around another object or a center of mass.

  2. A single complete cycle of such motion.


Our Living Language  : In everyday speech revolution and rotation are often used as synonyms, but in science they are not synonyms and have distinct meanings. The difference between the two terms lies in the location of the central axis that the object turns about. If the axis is outside the body itself—that is, if the object is orbiting about another object—then one complete orbit is called a revolution. But if the object is turning about an axis that passes through itself, then one complete cycle is called a rotation. This difference is often summed up in the statement "Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun."