v. t. & i. [ Pref. circum- + gyrate. ] To roll or turn round; to cause to perform a rotary or circular motion. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round. [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Moving in a circle; turning round. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Dextro- + gyrate. ] (Chem. & Opt.) Same as Dextrorotatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. gyratus made in a circular form, p. p. of gyrare. ] Winding or coiled round; curved into a circle; taking a circular course. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Gyrated p. pr. & vb. n. Gyrating. ] [ L. gyratus, p. p. of gyrare to gyrate. See Gyre, n. ] To revolve round a central point; to move spirally about an axis, as a tornado; to revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of turning or whirling, as around a fixed center; a circular or spiral motion; motion about an axis; rotation; revolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gyrations of an ascending balloon. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a burning coal be nimbly moved round in a circle, with gyrations continually repeated, the whole circle will appear like fire. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) One of the whorls of a spiral univalve shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Center of gyration. (Mech.) See under Center. --
Radius of gyration, the distance between the axis of a rotating body and its center of gyration. Rankine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Moving in a circle, or spirally; revolving; whirling around. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to mercury; containing, or impregnated with, mercury. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Levo- + gyrate. ] (Chem., Physics, Biochem.) Turning or twisting the plane of polarization of light towards the left, as levulose, levotartaric acid, etc.; levorotatory. [ Written also lævogyrate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]