Gyration
/dʒaɪˈreɪ.ʃən/noun
The act of turning or spinning around a center or axis.
Did you know?Gyration ultimately comes from the same ancient root that gave English words like ‘circle’ and ‘cycle,’ because the oldest idea behind it was simply “to move in a ring.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ger-
“to turn, bend, or revolve”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gyros (γῦρος)
“a ring, circle, or round shape”
Late Latin
Latin
gyrāre
“to turn around, revolve”
Late Latin
Latin
gyrātiō
“a turning or whirling around”
16th Century
English
gyration
“a turning, whirling motion”
Modern English
English
gyration
“the act of spinning or revolving around a center”