revolve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb turn on or around an axis or a center
    go around; rotate.
    • The Earth revolves around the Sun
    • The lamb roast rotates on a spit over the fire
  2. verb move in an orbit
    orb; orbit.
    • The moon orbits around the Earth
    • The planets are orbiting the sun
    • electrons orbit the nucleus
  3. verb cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis
    roll.
    • She rolled the ball
    • They rolled their eyes at his words

WordNet

Re*volve" intransitive verb
Etymology
L. revolvere, revolutum; pref. re- re- + volvere to roll, turn round. See Voluble, and cf. Revolt, revolution.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Revolved; present participle & verbal noun Revolving
Definitions
  1. To turn or roll round on, or as on, an axis, like a wheel; to rotate, -- which is the more specific word in this sense.
    If the earth revolve thus, each house pear the equator must move a thousand miles an hour. I. Watts.
  2. To move in a curved path round a center; as, the planets revolve round the sun.
  3. To pass in cycles; as, the centuries revolve.
  4. To return; to pass. R. Ayliffe.
Re*volve" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to turn, as on an axis.
    Then in the east her turn she shines, Revolved on heaven's great axile. Milton.
  2. Hence, to turn over and over in the mind; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
    This having heard, straight I again revolved The law and prophets. Milton.

Webster 1913