to circumvolve
- verb
- /sɜrˈkʌmˌvoʊl/
- Specialized
- The planets circumvolve around the sun in a smooth orbit.
Examples
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The dancer seemed to circumvolve gracefully around the stage.
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During the experiment, the molecules began to circumvolve in a controlled manner.
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Pondering the circumvolving mediations of "thin antennae that underwire the Atlantic Ocean" and the pine trees.
Academic text (2016)
Synonyms
Move something so it faces a different direction or side
To turn around a central point, like a wheel or planet
To move in a twisting or circular way
To make something move in a circle around a central point
To turn your body quickly in a circle many times
To turn quickly to face a different direction
To turn around a fixed point
Turned around a center point like a wheel
How Fast
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
circumvolve = circum + volve
The meaning is built from 'circum-' (around) + the combining form 'volve' (to roll/revolve); however 'volve' is not a standalone English word, so learners may need to recognise the combining form via related words (revolve, involve) rather than a clear base word.
Etymology
Circumvolve comes from two Latin parts: circum- meaning 'around' and volve meaning 'to roll', the same idea you see in revolve. So to circumvolve something is to make it turn or move 'around' a center.