Definition of gyroscope
: 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
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of gyroscope from the Web
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These systems relied on new tech that had just come online: The Kettering Bug, developed for the Army’s Air force just before World War I, used gyroscopes to keep itself stabilized.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gyroscope'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of gyroscope
Origin and Etymology of gyroscope
French
First Known Use: 1856
GYROSCOPE Defined for English Language Learners
gyroscope
playDefinition of gyroscope for English Language Learners
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: a wheel that spins quickly and is held in a frame that allows it to tilt in any direction
GYROSCOPE Defined for Kids
gyroscope
playDefinition of gyroscope for Students
: a wheel mounted to spin rapidly so that its axis is free to turn in various directions
Learn More about gyroscope
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See words that rhyme with gyroscope Spanish Central: Translation of gyroscope Nglish: Translation of gyroscope for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gyroscope
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