noun · verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɹɪˈvɒlv/
General-American:/ɹɪˈvɑlv/
General-American:/ɹɪˈvɔlv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒlv
CMU ARPABET:R IY0 V AA1 L V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The rotation of part of the scenery within a theatrical production.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The rotating section itself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A radical change; revolution.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To bring back into a particular place or condition; to restore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
Qualifier: Physical movement.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To cause (something) to turn around a central point.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: Physical movement.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To orbit a central point (especially of a celestial body).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: Physical movement.
Examples
The Earth revolves around the sun.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To rotate around an axis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: Physical movement.
Examples
The Earth revolves once every twenty-four hours.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To move in order or sequence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: Physical movement.
Examples
The program revolves through all the queues before returning to the start.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To ponder on; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
Qualifier: Mental activity.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To read through, to study (a book, author etc.).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
Qualifier: Mental activity.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis
From Middle English revolven (“to change direction”), borrowed from Old French revolver (“to reflect upon”), from Latin revolvere (“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”), from re- (“back”) + volvō (“roll”); see voluble, volve.
Across languages
Translations
68 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
圍繞 /围绕
(wéirào)
— to orbit a central point
Esperanto:
rivolui
— to orbit a central point
Finnish:
kiertää
— to orbit a central point
French:
retourner
— to orbit a central point
French:
tourner
— to orbit a central point
German:
sich drehen
— to orbit a central point
Greek:
περιστρέφομαι
(peristréfomai)
— to orbit a central point
Hindi:
घूमना
(ghūmnā)
— to orbit a central point
White Hmong:
tig
— to orbit a central point
Hungarian:
kering
— to orbit a central point
Italian:
orbitare
— to orbit a central point
Central Kurdish:
خۆلاندن
(xolandin)
— to orbit a central point
Pashto:
څرخول
(carxawəl)
— to orbit a central point
Pashto:
تاوول
(tāwawəl)
— to orbit a central point
Polish:
kręcić się (wokół)
— to orbit a central point
Portuguese:
orbitar
— to orbit a central point
Quechua:
muyuy
— to orbit a central point
Russian:
верте́ться
(vertétʹsja)
— to orbit a central point
Russian:
крути́ться
(krutítʹsja)
— to orbit a central point
Russian:
враща́ться
(vraščátʹsja)
— to orbit a central point
Spanish:
girar (alrededor de)
— to orbit a central point
Swedish:
kretsa
— to orbit a central point
Thai:
โคจร
(koo-jɔɔn)
— to orbit a central point
Thai:
หมุน
(mǔn)
— to orbit a central point
Thai:
วน
(won)
— to orbit a central point
Ottoman Turkish:
دونمك
(dönmek)
— to orbit a central point
Albanian:
dredh
— to turn on an axis
Bulgarian:
въртя се
(vǎrtja se)
— to turn on an axis
Chinese Mandarin:
旋轉 /旋转
(xuánzhuǎn)
— to turn on an axis
Chinese Mandarin:
運轉 /运转
(yùnzhuàn)
— to turn on an axis
Finnish:
pyöriä
— to turn on an axis
French:
retourner
— to turn on an axis
French:
tourner
— to turn on an axis
German:
sich drehen
— to turn on an axis
Greek:
περιστρέφομαι
(peristréfomai)
— to turn on an axis
White Hmong:
tig
— to turn on an axis
Indonesian:
edar
— to turn on an axis
Italian:
ruotare
— to turn on an axis
Japanese:
回る
(mawaru)
— to turn on an axis
Japanese:
回転する
(kaiten-suru)
— to turn on an axis
Javanese:
ider
— to turn on an axis
Javanese:
mubeng
— to turn on an axis
Old Javanese:
hidĕr
— to turn on an axis
Kazakh:
айналу
(ainalu)
— to turn on an axis
Central Kurdish:
خۆلاندن
(xolandin)
— to turn on an axis
Latin:
vertō
— to turn on an axis
Malay:
edar
— to turn on an axis
Pashto:
تاوول
(tāwawəl)
— to turn on an axis
Pashto:
اړول
(arrawəl)
— to turn on an axis
Polish:
wirować
— to turn on an axis
Polish:
kręcić się
— to turn on an axis
Portuguese:
girar
— to turn on an axis
Russian:
враща́ться
(vraščátʹsja)
— to turn on an axis
Spanish:
rotar
— to turn on an axis
Swedish:
rotera
— to turn on an axis
Swedish:
snurra runt
— to turn on an axis
Thai:
หมุน
(mǔn)
— to turn on an axis
Ottoman Turkish:
دونمك
(dönmek)
— to turn on an axis
Greek:
περιστρέφω
(peristréfo)
— to recur in cycles
Italian:
ricorrere
— to recur in cycles
Russian:
повторя́ться
(povtorjátʹsja)
— to recur in cycles
