Etymology From Middle English revolven (“to change direction”), borrowed from Old French revolver (“to reflect upon”), from Latin revolvere (“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”), from re- (“back”) + volvō (“roll”); see voluble, volve.
Archaic To bring back into a particular place or condition; to restore.
Physical movement.
2
To cause (something) to turn around a central point.
Physical movement.
3
To orbit a central point (especially of a celestial body).
Physical movement.
The Earth revolves around the sun.
4
To rotate around an axis.
Physical movement.
The Earth revolves once every twenty-four hours.
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.1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
5
To move in order or sequence.
Physical movement.
The program revolves through all the queues before returning to the start.
6
Archaic To ponder on; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
Mental activity.
These are the difficulties which arise to me on revolving this scheme […].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; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
He sits silent, revolving many thoughts, at the foot of St. Edmund’s Shrine.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):
7
Obsolete To read through, to study (a book, author etc.).
Mental activity.
This having heard, strait I again revolv’d / The Law and Prophets.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:
Etymology From Middle English revolven (“to change direction”), borrowed from Old French revolver (“to reflect upon”), from Latin revolvere (“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”), from re- (“back”) + volvō (“roll”); see voluble, volve.
1
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Theater The rotation of part of the scenery within a theatrical production.
[…] 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.2003, Gary Philip Cohen, The Community Theater Handbook, page 134: