gyroscope

noun

gy·​ro·​scope ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp How to pronounce gyroscope (audio)
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
gyroscopic adjective
gyroscopically adverb

Illustration of gyroscope

Illustration of gyroscope

Examples of gyroscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Equipped with a smart AI chip and gyroscope, the orb hovers, flies, and returns to the user like a boomerang, providing countless hours of entertainment. Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025 As the gyroscope turns, the standing wave stays in place like a magnet compass needle pointing north. New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025 That and later models rely on a gyroscope and an accelerometer to detect an impact. Frederick Dreier, Outside, 2 Dec. 2025 Best picks for you You won't be disappointed with the views through these binoculars, where the gyroscope motion sensors detect how much movement there is and actuators then counteract the wobble up to an angle of 0.8 degrees. Kat Bayly, Space.com, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gyroscope

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gyroscope was in 1856

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Cite this Entry

“Gyroscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gyroscope. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

gyroscope

noun
gy·​ro·​scope ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp How to pronounce gyroscope (audio)
: a wheel or disk mounted to spin rapidly about an axis that is free to turn in various directions
gyroscopic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gyroscope

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