Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#REVOLVECategory:English terms derived from Middle English#REVOLVE revolven (“to change direction”), borrowed from Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#REVOLVE revolver (“to reflect upon”), from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#REVOLVE revolvere (“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”), from re- (“back”) + volvō (“roll”); see voluble, volve.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈvɒlv/Category:English 2-syllable words#REVOLVECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#REVOLVE
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈvɑlv/, /ɹɪˈvɔlv/Category:English 2-syllable words#REVOLVECategory:English 2-syllable words#REVOLVECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#REVOLVE

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#REVOLVE
• Rhymes: -ɒlvCategory:Rhymes:English/ɒlv#REVOLVECategory:Rhymes:English/ɒlv/2 syllables#REVOLVE

Verb

revolve (third-person singular simple present revolves, present participle revolving, simple past and past participle revolved)Category:English lemmas#REVOLVECategory:English verbs#REVOLVECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#REVOLVECategory:Pages with entries#REVOLVECategory:Pages with 4 entries#REVOLVE

1. (Physical movement.)
   1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#REVOLVE, now rareCategory:English terms with rare senses#REVOLVE) To bring back into a particular place or condition; to restore. [from 15th c.]
   2. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#REVOLVE) To cause (something) to turn around a central point. [from 16th c.]
   4. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#REVOLVE) To orbit a central point (especially of a celestial body). [from 17th c.]

      The Earth revolves around the sun.

      Category:English terms with usage examples#REVOLVE

   5. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#REVOLVE) To rotate around an axis. [from 17th c.]

      The Earth revolves once every twenty-four hours.Category:English terms with usage examples#REVOLVE

      • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:

        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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#REVOLVE

   6. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#REVOLVE) To move in order or sequence. [from 17th c.]

      The program revolves through all the queues before returning to the start.Category:English terms with usage examples#REVOLVE

2. (Mental activity.)
   1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#REVOLVE, now rareCategory:English terms with rare senses#REVOLVE) To ponder on; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of. [from 15th c.]
      • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LXXXII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:

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

        Category:English terms with quotations#REVOLVE

      • 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “chapter 6, Monk Samson”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk):

        He sits silent, revolving many thoughts, at the foot of St. Edmund’s Shrine.

        Category:English terms with quotations#REVOLVE

   2. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#REVOLVE, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#REVOLVE) To read through, to study (a book, author etc.). [15th–19th c.]
      • 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:

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

        Category:English terms with quotations#REVOLVE

Noun

revolve (plural revolves)Category:English lemmas#REVOLVECategory:English nouns#REVOLVECategory:English countable nouns#REVOLVECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#REVOLVECategory:Pages with entries#REVOLVECategory:Pages with 4 entries#REVOLVE

1. (theaterCategory:en:Theater#REVOLVE) The rotation of part of the scenery within a theatrical production.
2. (theaterCategory:en:Theater#REVOLVE) The rotating section itself.
   • 2003, Gary Philip Cohen, The Community Theater Handbook, page 134:

     […] 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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#REVOLVE

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
3. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#REVOLVE) A radical change; revolution.

Anagrams

• evolver

Alternative forms

• revolver
• revolvere
• revolvero

Noun

revolve m (plural revolvi)Category:Italian lemmas#REVOLVECategory:Italian nouns#REVOLVECategory:Italian countable nouns#REVOLVECategory:Italian entries with incorrect language header#REVOLVECategory:Italian masculine nouns#REVOLVECategory:Pages with entries#REVOLVECategory:Pages with 4 entries#REVOLVE

1. (obsoleteCategory:Italian terms with obsolete senses#REVOLVE) alternative form of revolver

Verb

revolveCategory:Latin non-lemma forms#REVOLVECategory:Latin verb forms#REVOLVECategory:Latin entries with incorrect language header#REVOLVECategory:Pages with entries#REVOLVECategory:Pages with 4 entries#REVOLVE

1. second-person singular present active imperative of revolvō

Verb

revolveCategory:Portuguese non-lemma forms#REVOLVECategory:Portuguese verb forms#REVOLVECategory:Portuguese entries with incorrect language header#REVOLVECategory:Pages with entries#REVOLVECategory:Pages with 4 entries#REVOLVE

1. inflection of revolver:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative