Every month, we take a look at a word in the headlines, in English, for your English. See more at The Word of the Month.
Definitions:
Revolution (noun):
- A (sometimes violent) attempt to change the government by a large group of people.
- A major shift or change in conventions or ideas.
- A complete turn or circle.
Examples:
Classic Revolutions:
American (vs Great Britain)
French (vs. French monarchy)
Bolshevik (Soviets vs. Tsarist regime)
Copernican (Earth vs. Sun)
Dance Dance Revolution (Japan’s #1 dance video game)
New Wave Revolutions:
In Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Libya, civil unrest has made the news. Thanks to CNN and Al Jazeera, all of these revolutions WERE televised! Take that, Gil Scott Heron (listen!)
Revolutionary Facts:
33 1/3 is the standard RPM (revolutions per minute) of a vinyl record. Anything faster and you start sounding like a chipmunk.
You say you want a revolution, but do you really? Think about it!
Famous Revolutionaries:
- Ché Guevara (creator of the Ché Guevara T-shirt)
- Otto Hahn (discovered the OttoMobile and nuclear fission)
- Fidel Castro (founder of San Francisco’s Castro district)
- Chairman Mao (inventor of the chair, man)
- VI Lenin (co-founder of the Beatles)
- George Washington Carver (inventor of the peanut)
- Uncle Ben (my favorite uncle, and rice pioneer)
Take a look through our Word of the Month archives, or improve your English with gymglish.com.