gyration

Other forms: gyrations

The act of turning quickly in a circle is gyration. The gyration of a whirling amusement park ride might leave your head spinning long after you get off.

A hula hoop whiz is an expert at gyration, whirling the hoops around their hips, arms, and legs (maybe all at once — that's a lot of gyration!). This kind of fast, circular movement is what gyration is all about, from an old verb, gyre, "rotate or revolve." In math, a gyration is a very specific type of rotation. When a sphere rotates around a point that's not at its center, it's an example of gyration.

Definitions of gyration

1. noun

   the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
   synonyms: whirling

   type of:

   rotary motion, rotation

   the act of rotating as if on an axis
2. noun

   a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
   synonyms: revolution, rotation

   types:

   clockwise rotation, dextrorotation

   rotation to the right

   counterclockwise rotation, levorotation

   rotation to the left

   axial motion, axial rotation, roll

   rotary motion of an object around its own axis

   orbital motion, orbital rotation

   motion of an object in an orbit around a fixed point

   spin

   a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)

   backspin

   spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion

   English, side

   (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist

   topspin

   forward spin (usually of a moving ball) that is imparted by an upward stroke

   wallow

   an indolent or clumsy rolling about

   type of:

   turn, turning

   a movement in a new direction