释义 |
rev·o·lu·tion I. \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) : revolutionize |