revolutionrev‧o‧lu‧tion /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun 
In the last ten years there has been a revolution in education.social/cultural/sexual etc revolution the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960s → Industrial Revolution2[countable, uncountable] a time when people change a ruler or political system by using force or violence: the French Revolution of 1789 The role of women has changed since the revolution. The country seems to be heading towards revolution. → counter-revolution3 a)[countable, uncountable] a circular movement around somethingrevolution around the planets’ revolution around the Sun b)[countable] one complete circular spinning movement, made by something such as a wheel attached to a central point: a speed of 100 revolutions per minuteTHESAURUSrevolt/rebellion/uprising an attempt by a large group of people at revolution: · a popular uprising (=involving ordinary people, not the army)coup /kuː/ an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers, suddenly take control of a country: · a military coup
WORD ORIGINrevolution
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin revolutio, from revolvere; ➔ REVOLVEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an era of rural unrest and peasant revolution
- Einstein's General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.
- Just 12 days after the emperor's death, the country erupted into revolution.
- Penicillin began a revolution in the treatment of infectious disease.
- The 1789 revolution marked the end of the French monarchy.
- The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution, based on microelectronics.
- the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917
- The Earth makes one revolution around the sun each year.
- The planet rotates in the same direction as its revolution around the sun.
- The shaft spins at 950 revolutions per minute.
- the technological revolution
- They argue that our schools are failing our children, and that the education system needs a revolution.
- Trotsky was one of the leading figures in the Russian Revolution of 1917.
- Abandoned by her family and deserted by her servants, Elena Petrescu was incapable of grasping that a revolution had happened.
- Apple had gone off to start the revolution without Xerox.
- It needed not only a revolution in organisation but in technology too.
- Talk of revolution and counter-revolution has been banned from the rhetoric of the moment.
- The upheavals of the era tended to come together, one kind of revolution easily attaching itself to another.
- This was a revolution in thought.
THESAURUS
an attempt by a large group of people at revolution: · a popular uprising (=involving ordinary people, not the army)
an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers, suddenly take control of a country: · a military coup
Longman Language Activatoran attempt to change the government or other authority, often using violence an organized attempt to change the government or other authority, often by using violence: · In 1968, a student rebellion in Paris sparked off a nationwide general strike.· The rebellion started in Kilalla and spread quickly through the Western provinces.rebellion against: · The citizens of Kwangju rose in rebellion against the oppressive regime.· The Duke of Ormond led a military rebellion against the new king. crush/put down a rebellion (=use force to stop it): · Troops were used to put down a rebellion and arrest hundreds of protestors.· The rebellion was crushed by an army assault in which over 200 people died.mount/stage a rebellion (=begin a rebellion): · an unsuccessful attempt to mount a rebellion against British rule· A rebel army of political dissidents had staged a rebellion in December 1989.
a successful attempt by the people of a country to change or destroy the government, often by using violence: · The 1789 revolution marked the end of the French monarchy.· Trotsky was one of the leading figures in the Russian Revolution of 1917.· Just 12 days after the emperor's death, the country erupted into revolution.· an era of rural unrest and peasant revolution
an attempt, especially one that only continues for a short time, to change the government by using violence: · In 1880, a peasant revolt swept the country in protest at the tax on salt.· Louverture headed the revolt of the slaves in the French colony of San Domingo.revolt against: · At a word from Gandhi, India would have risen in revolt.· Mayhew's remarks represented the first American call for revolt against England.crush/suppress/put down a revolt: · Army forces crushed the revolt, forcing many to flee the country.· The Confederate government provided troops to suppress slave revolts.· Herrera knew that if his government failed to put down the revolt, it would spread to outlying areas.
formal an organized attempt to change the government, through violence, especially an attempt that involves a large number of people: · It was widely believed that the outlaws had been plotting an insurrection.· the ruthless suppression of slave insurrections· an outbreak of insurrectionarmed insurrection (=an insurrection in which weapons are used): · The reign of civil disorder and terrorism culminated in armed insurrection.
a sudden unplanned, and often unsuccessful attempt to change the government or other authority, using violence: · Peasant uprisings were the first signs of discontent among the people.· The new law prompted a pro-democracy uprising in the south.· The short-lived uprising fizzled out in the face of strong opposition from government forces.uprising against: · a failed uprising against French colonial rulequell/put down an uprising (=stop it): · The President took immediate steps to quell the uprising.· The new leader put down the uprising by dispatching government troops to the area.
an organized attempt by a group of people in the army or navy to take power from their officers by refusing to obey their orders and using violence: · The film tells the story of a mutiny aboard a slave ship.· Thirteen soldiers were sentenced to life imprisonment for mutiny.
an attempt by the army to take control of the government an attempt by the army to take control of the government: · Tomorrow is the anniversary of the coup that brought a military dictatorship to power here nine years ago.coup/coup d'état against: · He led a successful coup against the government of Iraq.military coup: · In April 1974, a military coup took place in Lisbon.coup attempt/attempted coup: · The coup attempt was followed by police brutality, executions, and torture.· They smashed an attempted coup by the communists, leaving hundreds dead.abortive/failed coup (=one that does not succeed): · Peru offered refuge to officers who had taken part in the abortive coup.· The government imposed a state of emergency after the failed coup d'état.stage a coup (=attempt a coup): · The chief of the armed forces intended to take power by staging a coup d'état.
a successful attempt by the army to take control of their own country by removing the legal government: · The election was the first since the military takeover in 1980.· The economic crisis and the threat from separatist guerrillas led to a military takeover.
to take part in a rebellion · The eastern provinces are likely to rebel if they are not given more freedom.rebel against · The slaves were punished for rebelling against their owners.· When the federal government refused this request, the Southern States rebelled.
to take part in an attempt, especially one that continues only for a short time, to change the government using violence: · When Napoleon won control of the region and attached it to Bavaria, the Tiroleans revolted. revolt against: · Some of the Arab tribes were persuaded to revolt against Turkish rule.· News reached the capital that two garrisons in the south had revolted against the government.
if people rise up , large numbers of them begin violently to oppose their government or other authority, especially without planning to do this: · First, the autoworkers rose up, followed by the steelworkers.· He forecast that the people of Egypt would rise up and overthrow the government.rise up against: · The people of Damascus rose up against their governors.· a proclamation urging the people to rise up against their mastersrise up in revolt/in arms/in rebellion: · The Maya farmers rose up in arms to demand greater democracy and freedom.· The troops would rise up in open rebellion if we tried to make them march any further.
if a group in the army or navy mutiny , they try to take power from their officers by refusing to obey their orders and using violence: · At Odessa, the sailors of the Imperial navy mutinied.mutiny against: · Army factions mutinied against orders from Beijing.
someone who takes part in a rebellion · The rebels attacked an airfield, exchanging fire with Russian troops.· A large number of rebels escaped to the east as the army closed in on Jaffra.
someone who takes part in or supports an attempt to change the government by using violence: · Having taken control of the capital city, the revolutionaries proceeded to form a new government.· Garcia Gutierrez wrote two plays with revolutionaries as their heroes.
someone who fights in an unofficial military group, trying to remove their country's existing government, especially by making surprise military attacks: · The guerrillas began their assault on March 8th.· Red Cross officials condemned the treatment that imprisoned guerrillas have received.· Four Western tourists held by armed guerrillas in Kashmir began their seventh month in captivity today.
someone who is fighting to try to remove their country's existing government - use this if you think that this is the right thing to do: · Ralph Fiennes plays an idealistic freedom fighter.· Young enthusiasts drove across the border to join the freedom fighters who had appealed to the world for help.
someone who encourages rebellion someone who encourages people to oppose the government by trying to make them angry enough to use violence: · The riots were the work of political agitators.· The genuine protestors were joined by outside agitators, intent on encouraging violence.
someone who spends a lot of time trying to encourage people to oppose the government or to accept new and different political beliefs: · The Global Communications Group links ecological and other political activists via the Net. · Clinton's AIDS "czar" resigned after being criticized by gay activists for being weak.
someone who is secretly trying to make their own government weak by encouraging people to oppose the government or to take part in a rebellion: · Pablo Picasso was for a long time regarded as a dangerous subversive. alleged/potential/suspected subversive (=someone that the authorities think is a subversive, but who may not be): · the kidnap and torture of a suspected subversive· CIA agents infiltrated the group, looking for alleged subversives.
actions, speeches etc that encourage rebellion actions, speeches etc that are intended to encourage people to oppose the government or to take part in a rebellion: · Hu was arrested on charges of sedition.· The clubs were suspected of being centres of sedition.
secret activities that are intended to encourage people to oppose the government or to take part in a rebellion: · Seventeen people were convicted of subversion following a coup attempt.· Many defectors provided the McCarthy committees with evidence of political subversion.
when things change · There have been so many changes around here lately that I'm not sure what's happening any more.· A lot of people are frightened of change.change in · There was a sudden change in the weather.· House plants are often sensitive to changes in temperature.· The delay was the result of a change in the way that we administer the grants.social/economic/political etc change · 1989 was a year of great political change in eastern Europe.big change/major change · There have been big changes in the way languages are taught in schools.a change for the better/worse · For most ordinary workers, the new tax laws represent a change for the worse.
a change in something, especially one that has happened gradually or naturally: · The relationship between the United States and China has altered in recent years.alteration in: · She noticed the alteration in his looks and manner.· Max walked past her, without acknowledging her presence by the slightest alteration in his expression.
also turnround British a complete change from a bad economic situation to a good one, or a change from failing to succeeding: · BRITCON's turnround has been achieved by drastic reductions in manpower.· The team's dramatic turnaround is attributed to their new coach Bill Snyder.turnaround in: · The expected turnaround in the beer industry has, for various reasons, not yet occurred.
a big change in your life or in the way things are organized, especially when this causes problems and anxiety: · Moving to a different school can be a big upheaval for young children.political/social/economic etc upheaval: · The company managed to survive the economic upheavals of the last 20 years.emotional upheaval: · Changing jobs can be an exciting challenge, but it can also be a time of great emotional upheaval.
a complete change in the way of doing things or thinking, because of new ideas or methods: · They argue that our schools are failing our children, and that the education system needs a revolution.revolution in: · Einstein's General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.scientific/technological/social etc revolution: · The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution, based on microelectronics.
a complete change in something or someone, especially so that there is a great improvement: transformation of: · The transformation of the Inner Harbor included new office buildings, and a marketplace of small shops and food stalls.transformation from something to something: · Her friends and neighbors watched her transformation from shy local girl to famous movie actress.transformation in: · The last great overall transformation in American business took place between 1890 and 1910, when the modern corporation was forged.transformation into: · Today, spruced-up Times Square is in the midst of a surprising transformation into a family-oriented entertainment center. undergo a transformation: · It is rare for a person to undergo a dramatic transformation in his political thinking, but it does happen.
a turning movement the circular movement that a person or object makes when turning something or being turned: · She can do a 360-degree turn on water skis.· Loosen the screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.turn of: · With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away from the rocks.
one complete circular movement around a fixed or central point - use this in technical contexts: · The shaft spins at 950 revolutions per minute.· The planet rotates in the same direction as its revolution around the sun.
a very fast turn that is repeated many times: · He made a quick spin to avoid the oncoming player.spin of: · the spin of a propeller
WORD SETSadversarial, adjectiveamnesty, nounanarchism, nounanarchist, nounanticlerical, adjectivearms control, nounbigot, nounbigoted, adjectivebigotry, nounbilateral, adjectiveBlimp, nouncarpetbagger, nouncaucus, nounchancellor, nouncoalition, nounconsensus, nounconstituency, nounconstitutionalism, nounconsumerism, nouncredo, noundemagogue, noundestabilize, verbdétente, noundisorder, noundissent, noundivine right, nounferment, nounfirebrand, noungerrymandering, nounheartland, nounhonours list, nouninterventionist, adjectiveisolationism, nounliberal, adjectiveliberal, nounliberalism, nounlobby, nounlobby, verbMaoism, nounnationalistic, adjective-ocracy, suffix-ocrat, suffixopinion-makers, nounopinion poll, nounpersonality cult, nounpetition, nounphoto opportunity, nounplacard, nounplatform, nounpolitical, adjectivepolitical asylum, nounpolitical geography, nounpolitical machine, nounpopulist, adjectivepork barrel, nounprivilege, nounpropaganda, nounrealpolitik, nounrevolution, nounsoapbox, nounsound bite, nounstump, verbsubversive, adjectivesubvert, verbwar of words, nounwheeler-dealer, nounwheeling and dealing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960sCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960s· Yet the high tide of nationalism was still to come, from two World Wars and the colonial revolution.· The colonial revolution could not by its own forces bring about the downfall of imperialism.· This effectively barred an alliance with the fighting elements of the colonial revolution.· The influence of the colonial revolution on the awakening masses of the workers' states has been complex and many-sided.· In general the colonial revolution has helped to overcome lethargy and the feeling of political impotence.· The evolution of the colonial revolution.· But this does not mean that the colonial revolution has not affected the mechanism of the imperialist economy.· There is recognition of the political resistance at home to waging wars against the colonial revolution in the name of anticommunism.
· Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution.
· This was part of the cultural revolution which has gone on ever since.· So what happens to me in the great cultural revolution?· Many Tory party cheer-leaders boast that there has been a cultural revolution.· A mere fraction of the population shared in the cultural revolution.· It says a cultural revolution is necessary if students are to be adequately equipped for the twenty-first century.
· The effects upon the actual records overshadowed some equally great revolutions behind the scenes, which tend to be forgotten.· During two decades he helped fight one of the great revolutions in Western religion without shedding a drop of blood.· So what happens to me in the great cultural revolution?· His is the generation that put a man on the moon and oversaw the greatest technological revolution in history.· The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the twentieth century.· But the great revolution was on its way.
· Everybody talking bout de Green revolution Protecting de children an fighting pollution.· Biotechnology is going to be speeding up the green revolution in agriculture.· Thus, a second green revolution may be in the offing hereby big energy production increases, but the energy-poor still starve.· But the potential of biotechnology, like that of the green revolution, is assessed in different ways by different people.· Callenbach's Ecotopia on the other hand is brought about by a green revolution of West Coast ecological activists.· Bhundri is a relatively rich village, where several farms have tractors, and all the farmers practise green revolution agriculture.· We all know that there has been a green revolution.
· It seemed that the industrial revolution was creating its own work-force.· During the peak of the industrial revolution, the preferred fuel was coal, which is 50 percent carbon.· It is a re-analysis of the reasons for the industrial revolution in Britain.· The old habits, acquired in the industrial revolution, are difficult to break.· The industrial revolution, then, was not a preliminary primitive stage required for the hatching of the more sophisticated information revolution.· Since the industrial revolution, millions of jobs have indeed been destroyed by machines.· The other ingredient of the first modern agricultural revolution was the industrial revolution.
· It could, however, have made clear the difference between constitutional amendment and political revolution.· Despite the drama of government shutdowns and talk of political revolution, the 1996 presidential campaign appears headed down a prosaic path.· It attempts to make an important connection between social conditions and the origins of political revolution.· Rather, it viewed its role as the conscience of a popular political revolution.· The revolution of 1918 was a political revolution but not a social or economic revolution.· New features of the political revolution.· So, it seemed, could the political revolution.· McLamb, who plans to join his Idaho comrades this summer, said he hopes a peaceful, political revolution will succeed.
· Many were convinced that only a proletarian revolution could remove discrimination.· This temporary development fostered both revisionist and defeatist views of the proletarian revolution in the imperialist countries.
· We are seeing the beginning of a quiet revolution in the world food system though not everyone would agree.· It chronicles a quiet revolution in education and tries to differentiate real accomplishments from hot air.· A quiet revolution is under way on this island.· Whilst a quiet revolution in terms of style has taken place at Allied, one thing hasn't changed.· Ruthless penalising of malingerers and also of sides going over the top has brought about a quiet revolution.
· That is a reasonable shorthand for the problems that have recently rocked the so-called Republican revolution.· On Capitol Hill, the Republican revolution seems to be grinding its gears.· This way the Republican revolution of 1994, which promised so much, will not be a total loss.· After the Republican revolution of 1994, a great deal depended on Specter and Gilman.
· The discontinuous change constitutes a scientific revolution.· The first contest of the scientific revolution was fought by Paracelsus, well ahead of the more famous initiatives of Vesalius and Copernicus.· We shall lead up to it by starting where the modern world began, with the scientific revolution.· We continue to speak of a scientific revolution because earlier systems of belief were emphatically overthrown.· The scientific revolution, it is often said, saw the separation of science from religion.· For these reasons we shall drop references to the separation of science and religion during the scientific revolution.· When this happens, there is a scientific revolution and the old paradigm is replaced with a new one.· The image of a separation between science and religion during the scientific revolution is certainly attractive.
· Table 5.4 summarizes the main evidence marshalled in support of her causal theory of social revolution.· Other social revolutions have bearing on the e-commerce applications.· A collection of Skocpol's essays on social revolution and macro-causal historical comparison.· The revolution of 1918 was a political revolution but not a social or economic revolution.· Does he agree that those policies have constituted one of the successful planks of the social revolution in this country since 1979?· The pagan contemporaries of Constantine were not wrong in saying that he had carried through a huge religious and social revolution.· However, so also has been the impact of social revolution, though rather less effectively.· Overall, Skocpol's comparisons identify the causes and consequences of social revolution.
· The Second International also insisted that the first socialist revolution in a major country would quickly find imitators elsewhere.· Thus democracy is not a regime that remains self-sufficient for decades but is only a direct prelude to the socialist revolution.· The construction of the party was an essential condition for the victory of the socialist revolution.· They believe that if socialist revolution has not arrived today, it will come tomorrow.· Britain in the throes of a socialist revolution?· More radical sections of the educated élite looked beyond liberal and constitutional reform to socialist revolution.
· Do you wonder I now see the positive side of the technological revolution?!· Nevertheless, it is possible to consider the strategic weight of the technological revolution.· In a staggeringly short time Helsinki has emerged as the centre of the next big technological revolution.· Nowadays, the technological revolution we are living in is the most important for humanity.· Information technology Introduction Lawyers have been slow to embrace the technological revolution.· It's a decidedly low-tech spot, but a technological revolution is under way here.· The second element is that information is the basis of technological revolution, it is a perfectly immaterial revolution.
NOUN· Scientists were aware of gallium's potential as a semiconductor 30 years ago but come the computer revolution it remained largely ignored.· A by-product of the computer revolution has been an increased understanding by scientists and humanists of each others' methods and preoccupations.· The computer revolution may have a significant effect upon the way in which you are able to perform your job.
· The communications and information revolution has permitted progressively greater central control over their financial affairs.· Will the next information revolution, the new, interactive telecommunications explosion, serve us any better?· The industrial revolution, then, was not a preliminary primitive stage required for the hatching of the more sophisticated information revolution.
· Lenin was not a nationalist, and his central political aim was to preserve the Republic as a springboard for world revolution.· For the specter of world revolution still haunts world capitalism, and the Yankee bomb is its ultimate defense.· Above all, the Fourth International calls attention to the turn in the pattern of the world revolution.· Also to be taken Into account are defeats to the world revolution.· This in turn will Influence the development of the three sectors of the world revolution.· The attitude of these castes towards the world revolution is one of total hostility.· Its interrelationship with the concrete process of world revolution proved to be more complicated than that.· The lack of a Leninist party constitutes the greatest single obstacle to the victory of the world revolution.
VERB· Now, e-commerce is bringing about another revolution that no company can afford to miss.· Ruthless penalising of malingerers and also of sides going over the top has brought about a quiet revolution.· It needed and wanted to bring about a revolution.
· The abolition of the death penalty following the revolution remained intact.· He thought of Andrei Gromyko, the great survivor of the different regimes that had followed the revolution.· Nevertheless the real power of the monarchy in Great Britain declined during the three generations which followed the revolution of 1688-89.· The ancient Solovetsky monastery, following the revolution, had become a notorious labour camp for political prisoners.
· They are figures no one could stop and who led a revolution.· It is only fitting that Sunnyvale should lead the performance revolution.· This region played a relatively small part in the struggles which led up to the Sandinista revolution.· The band is quietly leading a sincere revolution, knitting a genuine boyish irony and bookish intellectualism to instantly memorable songs.· No one can be certain what would have happened if the Communist Party had tried to lead a revolution in May 1968.· A further difference between the army and the police was that the professional officer corps had the task of leading the revolution.· One has led to the written constitution, but it has also led to revolution and at times tyranny.· Ahmed does not lead this revolution.
· The accepted principle was that you should not define your cause before starting the revolution.· Apple had gone off to start the revolution without Xerox.· But Uys knows how to use it as a weapon to start the revolution.· The computerized tomography scanners started the revolution in the early I97Os.· Afterwards he told me that he'd thought I was going to start a revolution there and then.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► foment revolution/trouble/discord etc
- My father's father, a soldier in the Black Watch, had helped put down a rebellion one Easter in Dublin.
WORD FAMILYnounrevolutionrevolutionaryadjectiverevolutionaryverbrevolutionize
1[countable] a complete change in ways of thinking, methods of working etcrevolution in In the last ten years there has been a revolution in education.social/cultural/sexual etc revolution the biggest social revolution we have had in this country the sexual revolution of the 1960s → Industrial Revolution2[countable, uncountable] a time when people change a ruler or political system by using force or violence: the French Revolution of 1789 The role of women has changed since the revolution. The country seems to be heading towards revolution. → counter-revolution3 a)[countable, uncountable] a circular movement around somethingrevolution around the planets’ revolution around the Sun b)[countable] one complete circular spinning movement, made by something such as a wheel attached to a central point: a speed of 100 revolutions per minuteTHESAURUSrevolt/rebellion/uprising an attempt by a large group of people at revolution: · a popular uprising (=involving ordinary people, not the army)coup /kuː/ an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers, suddenly take control of a country: · a military coup