gyrate

[ verb jahy-reyt, jahy-reyt; adjective jahy-reyt ]

verb (used without object)

, gy·rat·ed, gy·rat·ing.

1. to move in a circle or spiral, or around a fixed point; whirl.

   Synonyms: pirouette, swirl, revolve, twirl, spin

adjective

1. Zoology. having convolutions.

gyrate

/ -trɪ; ˈdʒaɪrətərɪ; dʒaɪˈreɪtərɪ /

verb

1. intr to rotate or spiral, esp about a fixed point or axis

adjective

1. biology curved or coiled into a circle; circinate

Derived Forms

• gyratory, adjective

Other Words From

• gyra·tor noun
• multi·gyrate adjective
• pseudo·gyrate adjective
• un·gyrat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrate¹

First recorded in 1820–30, gyrate is from the Latin word gȳrātus (past participle of gȳrāre to turn around). See gyr-, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrate¹

C19: from Late Latin gӯrāre, from Latin gӯrus circle, from Greek guros

Example Sentences

Zendaya, clad in a skintight dress, gyrates on a dance floor in “Challengers,” a $56 million sports drama that arrived in multiplexes on Friday.

From New York Times

There he crouched with heavy-lidded, unseeing eyes, not asleep, not awake, not dead, not alive, still as a stone, gyrating with the world.

From Literature

To demonstrate their fondness for dancing, they had Siri play “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars and then jumped, twisted and gyrated like teens at homecoming.

From Seattle Times

Dancers in feathered headdresses gyrated and strutted in parades featuring lavish floats with giant figures of Greek gods or pop stars.

From Seattle Times

At its height, and after gyrating through a verse or two of “Confessions,” Usher brought forth an HBCU-style marching band and drumline in formation, spelling out his name.

From Salon

Related Words

• twirl
• whirl