revolution

Everyday

1. When people overthrow a government or ruler, often by force, to change who runs the country. tree →
2. A very big change in how people live or work: the Industrial Revolution, a revolution in computers. tree →
3. One complete turn around a centre or point: The wheel makes 60 revolutions a minute. tree →
4. (science) The Earth's journey around the Sun, which takes one year. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons: the American, French and Industrial Revolutions. In maths, one revolution is a full turn of 360°; half a revolution is 180°. In science, Earth rotates on its axis once a day and revolves around the Sun once a year. Rates: «revolutions per minute» (rpm). Phrases: «one full revolution», «revolutions per minute», «a technological revolution».

Examples

• One full revolution is 360 degrees. tree →
• A quarter of a revolution is 90°. tree →
• The Earth makes one revolution around the Sun each year. tree →
• The wheel turns at 50 revolutions per minute; how many in 3 minutes? tree →
• The revolution changed how the country was ruled. tree →
• The internet started a revolution in how we talk. tree →
• The Industrial Revolution brought factories and trains. tree →
• Indeed, had the King her son not been deservedly beloved a revolution would certainly have arisen. tree →

Note

Countable: revolutions. Verb: revolve (go round) and revolt (rebel). Adjective: revolutionary. Trap: rotate = spin on own axis (Earth, once a day); revolve = go around something else (Earth around the Sun, once a year). Angles: revolution = 360°.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it means the turning of the stars and planets around the sky, or the cycle of the year.

Interpretation. The tradition links the heavens' turning to the signs of the zodiac and the months. It also says the cycles of the year, the world and the human heart reflect one another.

Examples

• The Thirtieth Path is the Collecting Intelligence, and is so called because Astrologers deduce from it the judgment of the Stars, and of the celestial signs, and the perfections of their science, according to the rules of their revolutions. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →
• The Celestial Dragon, T L I, is placed over the universe like a king upon the throne; the revolution of the year is as a king over his dominion; the heart of man is as a king in warfare. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Countable: revolutions. Verb: revolve (go round) and revolt (rebel). Adjective: revolutionary. Trap: rotate = spin on own axis (Earth, once a day); revolve = go around something else (Earth around the Sun, once a year). Angles: revolution = 360°.