revolution

UK: /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃ^ən/ US: /ˌrɛvəˈluʃən/ ,(rev′ə lo̅o̅′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rev•o•lu•tion /ˌrɛvəˈluʃən/   n. 

1. Government a complete overthrow and replacement of an established government by force:
   [uncountable] This country does not change its government by revolution.
   [countable] a number of revolutions in recent years.
2. Sociology a sudden, complete change in something:
   [countable] a social revolution caused by automation.
3. [countable]
   • Mechanics a turning round or rotating around a single point:
     The engine was racing at over 50,000 revolutions per minute.
   • Mechanics a moving in a curving course, as about a central point:
     one complete revolution around the racetrack.
4. Astronomy the orbiting of one heavenly body around another:
   [countable] The earth's revolution around the sun takes one year.

rev•o•lu•tion•ist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rev•o•lu•tion  (rev′ə lo̅o̅′shən), n. 

1. Government 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. Cf. social evolution. 
3. Sociology 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. [Mech.]
   • Mechanics a turning round or rotating, as on an axis.
   • Mechanics a moving in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.
   • Mechanics a single cycle in such a course.
7. Astronomy
   • (not in technical use) rotation (def. 2).
   • the orbiting of one heavenly body around another.
   • a single course of such movement.
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.

• Late Latin revolūtiōn- (stem of revolūtiō), equivalent. to revolūt(us) (see revolute) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English revolucion 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 5. cycle, circuit, round, rotation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

revolution / ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/ noun

1. the overthrow or repudiation of a regime or political system by the governed
2. (in Marxist theory) the violent and historically necessary transition from one system of production in a society to the next, as from feudalism to capitalism
3. a far-reaching and drastic change, esp in ideas, methods, etc
4. movement in or as if in a circle
5. one complete turn in such a circle: a turntable rotating at 33 revolutions per minute
6. the orbital motion of one body, such as a planet or satellite, around another
7. one complete turn in such motion
8. a cycle of successive events or changes

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Late Latin revolūtiō, from Latin revolvere to revolve