Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
rev·o·lu·tion
\\ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Middle English revolucioun, from Middle French revolution, from Late Latin revolution-, revolutio, from Latin revolvere to revolve
DATE 14th century
1.
a.
(1) the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course;
also : apparent movement of such a body round the earth
(2) the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete round in its orbit
(3) the rotation of a celestial body on its axis
b. completion of a course (as of years); also : the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events
c.
(1) a progressive motion of a body around an axis so that any line of the body parallel to the axis returns to its initial position while remaining parallel to the axis in transit and usually at a constant distance from it
(2) motion of any figure about a center or axis
revolution of a right triangle about one of its legs generates a cone
(3) rotation
1b
2.
a. a sudden, radical, or complete change
b. a fundamental change in political organization; especially : the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed
c. activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation
d. a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm
the Copernican revolution
e. a changeover in use or preference especially in technology
the computer revolution
the foreign car revolutionSynonyms: see rebellion
revolution
1390, originally of celestial bodies, from O.Fr. revolution, from L.L. revolutionem (nom. revolutio) "a revolving," from L. revolutus, pp. of revolvere "turn, roll back" (see revolve). General sense of "instance of great change in affairs" is recorded from c.1450. Political meaning first recorded 1600, derived from French, and was especially applied to the expulsion of the Stuart dynasty under James II in 1688 and transfer of sovereignty to William and Mary. Revolutionary as a noun is first attested 1850, from the adjective. Revolutionize "to change a thing completely and fundamentally" is first recorded 1799.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
☞ revolutionrevo·lu·tion /
7revE5lu:Fn /
noun1. [C, U] an attempt, by a large number of people, to change the government of a country, especially by violent action
革命:
a socialist revolution 社会主义革命
the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 1789 年法国大革命的爆发
to start a revolution 发动一场革命
a country on the brink of revolution 即将发生革命的国家⇨ see also
counter-revolution
,
revolt
2. [C] ~ (in sth) a great change in conditions, ways of working, beliefs, etc. that affects large numbers of people
巨变；大变革:
a cultural / social / scientific, etc. revolution 文化、社会、科学等的重大变革
A revolution in information technology is taking place. 信息技术正在发生巨变。⇨ see also
Industrial Revolution
3. [C, U] ~ (around / on sth) a complete
circular
movement around a point, especially of six planet around another
(环绕中心点的)旋转；(尤指)天体运行:
the revolution of the earth around the sun 地球环绕太阳的公转⇨ see also
revolve
4. (also informal
rev)
[C] a
circular
movement made by sth fixed to a central point, for example in a car engine
旋转；绕轴旋转:
rotating at 300 revolutions per minute 以每分钟 300 转的速度旋转 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishrevolution
noun
1 changing the political system
ADJ. successful | bloody, violent Thousands of people were killed in the bloody revolution that toppled the government. | bloodless, peaceful | popular | political | anti-communist, anti-democratic, etc. | communist, socialist, etc. | palace | bourgeois, proletarian | world Some Marxists still believe that socialism will one day triumph through world revolution.
VERB + REVOLUTION carry out, conduct, fight, foment, stage The activists were charged with fomenting revolution. | crush, put down | call for
REVOLUTION + VERB break out | spread | overthrow sth, topple sth the revolution which overthrew the old regime | fail the failed 1911 revolution
PREP. ~ against a revolution against communist rule
PHRASES the outbreak of the revolution, revolution from above/below (= fought by people already in power/by people without political power), the threat of revolution
2 complete change in methods, opinions, etc.
ADJ. quiet There has been a quiet revolution in the way writing is taught. | complete | virtual | minor | agrarian, agricultural, computer, cultural, economic, electronic, environmental, industrial, political, scientific, sexual, social, technological
VERB + REVOLUTION achieve, bring (about) The coming of television brought about a revolution in people's leisure activities. | undergo Marketing has undergone a revolution in recent years. | embrace, welcome Doctors have welcomed the fitness revolution.
REVOLUTION + VERB take place As the eighteenth century wore on, an agricultural revolution took place. | transform sth The computer revolution has transformed the workplace.
PREP. ~ in He achieved a virtual revolution in the way music is recorded.
3 movement around sth; one complete turn
ADJ. complete, full One full revolution of the knob will open the hatch.
VERB + REVOLUTION make
PREP. through a ~ The earth turns through one complete revolution approximately every twenty-four hours. | ~ about/around/round How long does it take for the planet Jupiter to make a complete revolution around the sun?
PHRASES revolutions a/per minute > See
REV
revolution noun
⇨ revolution 1 (the French Revolution)
⇨ revolution 2 (a technological revolution)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
Search result show the entry is found in:
oblate ellipsoid of revolution
, or
paraboloid of revolution
, or
revolution counter
, or
solid of revolution
, or
surface of revolution
, or
two-revolution press
, or
urban revolution
, or
vital revolution
, or
green revolution
, or
ellipsoid of revolution
, or
hyperboloid of revolution
, or
industrial revolution
rev·o·lu·tionI. \ˌrevəˈlüshən
also -əlˈyü-\
noun
(
-s)
Etymology: Middle English
revolucioun, from Middle French
revolution, from Late Latin
revolution-, revolutio, from Latin
revolutus (past participle of
revolvere to roll back, revolve) +
-ion-, -io -ion — more at
revolve
1.
a.
(1) : the act of a celestial body of going around in an orbit or elliptic course;
also : apparent movement of such a body around the earth — usually distinguished from
rotation
(2) : the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete round in its orbit
(3) : the rotation of a celestial body on its axis — not used technically
b. : completion of a course (as of years);
also : the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events
c. obsolete : cycle
,
epoch
d. archaic : recurrence
,
repetition
e.
(1) : a progressive motion of a body around a center or axis such that any line of the body remains throughout parallel to its initial position to which it returns on completing the circuit
(2) : motion of any figure about a center or axis in which each point of the figure traces a circular arc of the same angular size about its projection on the axis as center
< the revolution of a right-angled triangle about one of its legs generates a cone >
(3) : rotation
1b
< a bell rings for each revolution of the hectograph >2. : alteration or change in some matter or respect: as
a. : a sudden, radical, or complete change
< a revolution in thought >
: a basic reorientation and reorganization
< a revolution in technology >
b. : a fundamental change in political organization or in a government or constitution
: the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed
c. : profound crustal movement involving mountain-making and other physical changes on a continent-wide or world-wide scale;
also : the interval of time during which such a movement occurs
3.
a. archaic : a turning over in the mind or in discussion
: pondering
,
consideration
b. obsolete : a winding or curving form or course
: twist
,
bend
Synonyms: see rebellion
II. transitive verb
(
-ed/-ing/-s)