Illustration of gyroscope
gyroscope
noun
gy·ro·scope
ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp 
British also ˈgī-
: a wheel or disk mounted to spin rapidly about an axis and also free to rotate about one or both of two axes perpendicular to each other and to the axis of spin so that a rotation of one of the two mutually perpendicular axes results from application of torque to the other when the wheel is spinning and so that the entire apparatus offers considerable opposition depending on the angular momentum to any torque that would change the direction of the axis of spin
Examples of gyroscope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The gyroscope features two laser beams that move in opposite directions from each other, with one covering a slightly smaller distance than the other.
—
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2023
Instead of rotating smoothly like a vinyl record on a turntable, this off-kilter accretion disk acts more like a gyroscope, with disks spinning and wobbling at different angles and speeds.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023
The watch processes data from the gyroscope and accelerometer and uses machine learning algorithms to process minute changes in blood flow to detect your tiny motions.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 12 Sep. 2023
Peter Adams In the early 1990s, the typical IMU used mechanical gyroscopes for angular-rate sensing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2022
The 28-foot weekend cruiser is designed around its high-tech active foiling system—the wave-height sensors, gyroscope, and accelerometers that feed data 500 times per second to the flight controller, which manages the pitch, roll, and height of the foils.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 16 July 2023
A couple of days before the concert, Bowie attended a Rockettes performance at Radio City — one of the performers was lowered to the stage from the rafters on a gyroscope.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 3 July 2023
Versions that used ring-laser gyroscopes or fiber-optic gyroscopes were somewhat smaller, but all high-accuracy optical and mechanical gyros of the time cost thousands of dollars.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2022
Like the Ultra and second-gen SE, the Series 8 has an improved gyroscope and a new accelerometer that can measure changes in gravitational force up to 256 g.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 31 July 2023
See More
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2023
Instead of rotating smoothly like a vinyl record on a turntable, this off-kilter accretion disk acts more like a gyroscope, with disks spinning and wobbling at different angles and speeds.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023
The watch processes data from the gyroscope and accelerometer and uses machine learning algorithms to process minute changes in blood flow to detect your tiny motions.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 12 Sep. 2023
Peter Adams In the early 1990s, the typical IMU used mechanical gyroscopes for angular-rate sensing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2022
The 28-foot weekend cruiser is designed around its high-tech active foiling system—the wave-height sensors, gyroscope, and accelerometers that feed data 500 times per second to the flight controller, which manages the pitch, roll, and height of the foils.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 16 July 2023
A couple of days before the concert, Bowie attended a Rockettes performance at Radio City — one of the performers was lowered to the stage from the rafters on a gyroscope.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 3 July 2023
Versions that used ring-laser gyroscopes or fiber-optic gyroscopes were somewhat smaller, but all high-accuracy optical and mechanical gyros of the time cost thousands of dollars.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2022
Like the Ultra and second-gen SE, the Series 8 has an improved gyroscope and a new accelerometer that can measure changes in gravitational force up to 256 g.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 31 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gyroscope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French
First Known Use
1856, in the meaning defined above
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Dictionary Entries Near gyroscope
Cite this Entry
“Gyroscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gyroscope. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
gyroscope
noun
gy·ro·scope
ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp
: a wheel or disk mounted to spin rapidly about an axis that is free to turn in various directions
More from Merriam-Webster on gyroscope
Nglish: Translation of gyroscope for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gyroscope
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