Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Revolve
Re-volve′
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Revolved
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Revolving
.] [L.
revolvere
, revolutum
; pref. re-
re- + volvere
to roll, turn round. See Voluble
, and cf. Revolt
, revolution
.] 1.
To turn or roll round on, or as on, an axis, like a wheel; to rotate, – which is the more specific word in this sense.
If the earth
revolve
thus, each house near the equator must move a thousand miles an hour. I. Watts.
2.
To move in a curved path round a center;
as, the planets
. revolve
round the sun3.
To pass in cycles;
as, the centuries
. revolve
4.
To return; to pass.
[R.]
Ayliffe.
Re-volve′
,Verb.
T.
1.
To cause to turn, as on an axis.
Then in the east her turn she shines,
Revolved
on heaven’s great axile. Milton.
2.
Hence, to turn over and over in the mind; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
This having heard, straight I again
The law and prophets.
revolved
The law and prophets.
Milton.
Definition 2024
revolve
revolve
See also: revolvé
English
Verb
revolve (third-person singular simple present revolves, present participle revolving, simple past and past participle revolved)
- (intransitive) To orbit a central point.
- The Earth revolves around the sun.
- To turn on an axis.
- The Earth revolves once every twenty-four hours.
- 1915, George A. Birmingham, “chapter I”, in Gossamer (Project Gutenberg; EBook #24394), London: Methuen & Co., published 8 January 2013 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 558189256:
- It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the **** begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.
- (intransitive) To recur in cycles.
- The program revolves through all the queues before returning to the start.
- The centuries revolve.
- (transitive) To ponder on, to reflect repeatedly upon, to consider all aspects of.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, Bk.2, Ch.6, Monk Samson:
- He sits silent, revolving many thoughts, at the foot of St. Edmund’s Shrine.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, Bk.2, Ch.6, Monk Samson:
Related terms
- revolution
- revolver
- the world doesn't revolve around you
Translations
to orbit a central point
|
to turn on an axis
to recur in cycles
|
|
to ponder on
External links
- revolve in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- revolve in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911