[rev-uh-loo-shuh
n] 
| 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, esp. 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.
|
| 7. | Astronomy.
|
| 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. |
| rev·o·lu·tion (rěv'ə-lōō'shən) n.
[Middle English revolucioun, from Old French revolution, from Late Latin revolūtiō, revolūtiōn-, from Latin revolūtus, past participle of revolvere, to turn over; see revolve.] |
revolution (rěv'ə-l 'shən) Pronunciation Key
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." |