revolve — English Dictionary

.site-navbar .language-control {display:none}

Language

revolve

Pronunciations (4)

Verb

To bring back into a particular place or condition; to restore.
Usage
- Archaic
- Transitive
To cause (something) to turn around a central point.
Usage
- Transitive
To orbit a central point (especially of a celestial body).
Usage
- Intransitive
Examples

The Earth revolves around the sun.
To rotate around an axis.
Usage
- Intransitive
Examples

The Earth revolves once every twenty-four hours.

More examples (1)

It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.
To move in order or sequence.
Usage
- Intransitive
Examples

The program revolves through all the queues before returning to the start.
To ponder on; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
Usage
- Archaic
- Transitive
Examples

These are the difficulties which arise to me on revolving this scheme […].

He sits silent, revolving many thoughts, at the foot of St. Edmund’s Shrine.
To read through, to study (a book, author etc.).
Usage
- Obsolete
- Transitive
Examples

This having heard, strait I again revolv’d / The Law and Prophets.

The rotation of part of the scenery within a theatrical production.
The rotating section itself.

Examples

[…] a revolving stage, two-level platforms stage left and stage right, and a large bridge that connected the platforms midstage, twelve feet up off the revolve.
A radical change; revolution.
Usage
- Obsolete

Word forms

revolvesrevolvingrevolvedrevolvedrevolves