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

gyroscopic

ˌjī-rə-ˈskä-pik 

adjective

gyroscopically

ˌjī-rə-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Illustration of gyroscope

Examples of gyroscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The creators specifically flag maintaining tight magnetic-docking tolerances and fine-tuning the six-axis gyroscope across different operating systems as real production challenges. — New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026

The accurate and robust biometric sensors include an optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, altimeter, ambient light sensor, a compass, a gyroscope, an underwater depth gauge, and more. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

From Hubble's gyroscopes to the Wide-Field Camera 3 swapped out in 2009, the telescope has benefitted from many technological upgrades. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 6 July 2026

In these moments, Blunt seems to have entered a zone akin to the steady momentum of a gyroscope, a kind of spiritual whirring that has to find its own natural stopping point. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gyroscope

• antelope
• bronchoscope
• cantaloupe
• cystoscope
• endoscope
• envelope
• epitope
• horoscope
• isotope
• microscope
• misanthrope
• pericope

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

gyroscopic

ˌjī-rə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective