revolution Hear it!

revolution Definition

revo·lu·tion (rev′ə lo̵̅o̅′s̸hən)

noun

    1. the movement of an orbiting celestial object, as a star or planet, completely around another object
    2. apparent movement of the sun and stars around the earth
    3. the time taken for a body to go around an orbit and return to its original position
    1. a turning or spinning motion of a body, shaft, etc. around a center or axis; rotation
    2. one complete turn of such a rotating body, shaft, etc.
  3. a complete cycle of events the revolution of the seasons
  4. a complete or radical change of any kind a revolution in modern physics
  5. overthrow of a government, form of government, or social system by those governed and usually by forceful means, with another government or system taking its place the American Revolution (1775), the French Revolution (1789), the Chinese Revolution (1911), the Russian Revolution (1917)

Etymology: ME revolucion < OFr < LL revolutio < L revolutus, pp. of revolvere: see revolve

revolution Synonyms

revolution

n.

  1. A complete motion about an axis

    rotation, spin, turn, revolving, circuit, orbit, round, whirl, gyration, circumvolution, cycle, roll, reel, twirl, swirl, pirouette.

  2. An armed uprising

    revolt, rebellion, uprising, mutiny, insurrection, anarchy, coup, coup d'état, destruction, overturn, upset, overthrow, reversal, rising, riot, outbreak, violence, bloodshed, turbulence, insubordination, disturbance, reformation, plot, cabal, junta, putsch, underground activity, guerrilla activity, unrest, upheaval, tumult, disorder, foment, turmoil, uproar, row, strife, strike, subversion, breakup, secession, convulsion, throe; see also sense 3.

    Antonyms law*, order*, control. *

    Important revolutions include: Protectorate, 1653, Glorious Revolution, 1688, England; Revolutionary War, American Revolution, 1775, United States; French Revolution, 1789; War of Independence, 1821, Greece; Polish Revolt Against Russia, 1830, Poland; Rise of the Young Turks, 1908; Overthrow of the Manchus, 1911, China; Mexican Revolution, 1911; Russian Revolution, October Revolution, 1917; Rise of the German Republic, 1918; March on Rome of Fascisti, 1920, Italy; Overthrow of Alphonso XIII, 1931, Spain; Nazi Seizure of Government, 1933, Germany; Chinese Communist Revolution, 1949; Revolt Against the Netherlands, 1949, Indonesia; Revolt of the French Indo-Chinese States, 1954; Cuban Revolution, 1959; Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, 1966, China; Iranian Revolution, 1979; Opening of the Berlin Wall, 1989; Dissolution of the Soviet Union, 1991; Velvet Revolution, 1993, Czechoslovakia.

  3. A reversal

    change, radical change, metamorphosis, substitution, end of an era, epoch, reconstruction, overturn, upset, overthrow, debacle, cataclysm, revolution in ideas, political upheaval, disintegration, falling apart; see also sense 2; change 2.

revolution Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • undergo: Over the past 20 years waste management in the UK has undergone a quiet revolution with increasing amounts of waste being recycled.
  • spark: It has given me much joy and sparked a mental revolution the like of which I haven't experienced before.
  • ignite: American computer makers still sell consumer electronics, but their entry into the market didn't ignite a revolution in brands or customer loyalty.
  • herald: The introduction in 1986 of the US built class 59 heralded a revolution in diesel traction for freight services in the UK.
  • crush: Or was it the political machine which the Bolsheviki have created --is that the force which is crushing the Revolution?
  • kick-start: The anthem Born To Be Wild, helped kick-start a revolution of free-thinking rock ' n ' rollers.

Converse of subject

overthrow: Hashemite rule in Iraq lasted until 1958 when it was overthrown by a popular revolution, installing a left-wing, pro-Soviet military government.

Adjective modifier

  • proletarian: In France, I base the aim of the proletarian revolution... .
  • Russian: IN 1917 the Russian Revolution swept away the old order.
  • French: Source: John Hardman, The French Revolution, pp.
  • industrial: The Miners cottages were the home of many of the shale miners throughout the industrial revolution of the 19th Century.
  • socialist: Sadly, o­n this side of the socialist revolution, that's the way things are.
  • Cuban: Its only concern is to smash the Cuban revolution at whatever the cost.

Modifies a noun

brewing: It made nationalist sense to see Ceylon as part of the larger revolution brewing in India.

Noun used with modifier

  • Bolshevik: Trotsky's leadership during the Russian Civil War probably saved the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917.
  • velvet: He feels ill at ease that he has now become the living symbol of the current Czechoslovak " velvet revolution " .
  • dotcom: The dotcom revolution is going to lead to even more information anarchy.
  • telecommunications: The telecommunications revolution - including the Internet and World Wide Web - is providing us with ever greater power at ever lower prices.
  • broadband: We suggest that OFTEL and others really must start a debate on ' how do we include remote areas in the broadband revolution?

Preposition: of

spindle: Carriage feed rates vary through fifty changes from 0.0005 " to 0.016 " per revolution of the headstock spindle.