gyroscope

noun

gy·​ro·​scope ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp How to pronounce gyroscope (audio)
 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 adjective
gyroscopically adverb

Illustration of gyroscope

Illustration of gyroscope

Examples of gyroscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Additionally, devices often have motion-detecting accelerometers or gyroscopes, which sense the device’s position, Greg Potter, PhD, a sleep researcher and wellness speaker from Worcester, England, told Health. Kristen Fischer, Health, 12 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately during the braking manoeuvre a gyroscope failed, blocking the primary engine. Laurent Palka, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Rather than using lidar, gyroscopes, or infrared sensors to navigate your home, Matic sees like a human being and builds maps of the area on the fly. Adrienne So, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2023 Research from 2019 showed how monitoring a device accelerometer and gyroscope output can also lead to the accurate guessing of PINS entered. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2024 Many come in the form of a brace or a sports bra, but some are electronic devices, gyroscopes, or magnets that attach to the spine. Lauryn Higgins, Health, 23 Jan. 2024 Another great feature in the bundle is its Siri Remote, complete with Bluetooth 4.0, an IR transmitter, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2022 The gyroscope features two laser beams that move in opposite directions from each other, with one covering a slightly smaller distance than the other. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2023 Instead of rotating smoothly like a vinyl record on a turntable, this off-kilter accretion disk acts more like a gyroscope, with disks spinning and wobbling at different angles and speeds. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gyroscope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gyroscope was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near gyroscope

Cite this Entry

“Gyroscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gyroscope. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gyroscope

noun
gy·​ro·​scope ˈjī-rə-ˌskōp How to pronounce gyroscope (audio)
: a wheel or disk mounted to spin rapidly about an axis that is free to turn in various directions
gyroscopic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gyroscope

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!