gyro

¹

[ jahy-roh ]

noun

, plural gy·ros.

1. gyrocompass.
2. gyroscope.

gyro

²

[ yeer-oh, jahy-roh ]

noun

, Greek Cooking.

1. meat, usually lamb, roasted on a vertical spit, then thinly sliced, topped with onions, and usually served in a sandwich of pita bread.

gyro-

³

1. a combining form meaning “ring,” “circle,” “spiral,” used in the formation of compound words:

   gyromagnetic; gyroscope.

gyro-

¹

combining_form

1. indicating rotating or gyrating motion

   gyroscope

2. indicating a spiral
3. indicating a gyroscope

   gyrocompass

gyro

²

/ ˈdʒaɪrəʊ /

noun

1. See gyrocompass
2. See gyroscope

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyro¹

First recorded in 1905–10; independent use of gyro-

Origin of gyro²

1970–75; < Modern Greek gŷros literally, turn, revolution; gyre

Origin of gyro³

< Greek gŷros ring, noun use of gȳrós round

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyro¹

via Latin from Greek guro-, from guros circle

Example Sentences

The beef and Fritos bag earned the highest rating of 7.9, while the chicken and gyro meat bags earned much lower scores.

From Salon

A lunch truck pulled up to sell gyros to hungry folks in the crowd, irrespective of their politics.

From Salon

A nearby bus depot is a hub for commuters and tempts them to linger with a boba tea shop, a gyro stand and an outdoor cinema.

From New York Times

But the “sweeper” slider would offer hitters a different plane and pitch shape completely different from his high 90s fastballs up in the zone, the gyro slider down in the zone and his sinking changeup.

From Seattle Times

Eight slices of goodness — big enough for two — with a thin, almost crunchy crust, strips of gyro meat, red onion, green pepper, hunks of feta and a side of tzatziki sauce for drizzling or dunking.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• gyroscope