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an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence.
Compare .
a sudden, complete or marked change in something:
the present revolution in church architecture.
a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point.
a single turn of this kind.
Mechanics.

a turning round or rotating, as on an axis.
a moving in a circular or curving course, as about a central point.
a single cycle in such a course.

Astronomy.

(not in technical use) (def 2).
the orbiting of one heavenly body around another.
a single course of such movement.

a round or cycle of events in time or a recurring period of time.
Geology. a time of worldwide orogeny and mountain-building.
Contemporary Examples

Transferring Abdel-Rahman, says Eldin, “would be a gift to the revolution.”
Member of Egyptian Terror Group Goes to Washington Eli Lake June 20, 2012

With such violent actions, he added, “Cabello is digging the grave of what they call the revolution.”
Fisticuffs in Parliament! Mac Margolis April 30, 2013

Worse, the IT revolution has also created a much greater capacity for humans to conjure surprising events into being.
Welcome to the Anarchy Economy Daniel Gross April 22, 2013

“Actually, Tunisia now has more rich people than before the revolution,” she said.
A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists Thomas A. Bass April 5, 2014

If more than 600 people a year were dying from vaccines, we’d have a national uproar, if not a revolution.
Are Gun Accidents ‘Very Rare’? David Frum February 19, 2013

Historical Examples

It came from the furnace of the revolution, tempered to the necessities of the times.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various

He was at once hailed as a deliverer, and made, as it were, painter to the revolution.
Six Centuries of Painting Randall Davies

A revolution indeed is needed; but a revolution in point of view.
The Conquest of Fear Basil King

There has never been anything like this revolution in the history of the world.
Revolution and Other Essays Jack London

noun
the overthrow or repudiation of a regime or political system by the governed
(in Marxist theory) the violent and historically necessary transition from one system of production in a society to the next, as from feudalism to capitalism
a far-reaching and drastic change, esp in ideas, methods, etc

movement in or as if in a circle
one complete turn in such a circle: a turntable rotating at 33 revolutions per minute

the orbital motion of one body, such as a planet or satellite, around another Compare rotation (sense 5a)
one complete turn in such motion

a cycle of successive events or changes
(geology, obsolete) a profound change in conditions over a large part of the earth’s surface, esp one characterized by mountain building: an orogenic revolution
n.

late 14c., originally of celestial bodies, from Old French revolucion “course, revolution (of celestial bodies)” (13c.), or directly from Late Latin revolutionem (nominative revolutio) “a revolving,” noun of action from past participle stem of Latin revolvere “turn, roll back” (see revolve).

General sense of “instance of great change in affairs” is recorded from mid-15c. Political meaning “overthrow of an established political system” first recorded c.1600, derived from French, and was especially applied to the expulsion of the Stuart dynasty under James II in 1688 and transfer of sovereignty to William and Mary.
revolution
(rěv’ə-l’shən)

The motion of an object around a point, especially around another object or a center of mass.

A single complete cycle of such motion.

Our Living Language : In everyday speech revolution and rotation are often used as synonyms, but in science they are not synonyms and have distinct meanings. The difference between the two terms lies in the location of the central axis that the object turns about. If the axis is outside the body itself—that is, if the object is orbiting about another object—then one complete orbit is called a revolution. But if the object is turning about an axis that passes through itself, then one complete cycle is called a rotation. This difference is often summed up in the statement “Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.”