Meaning & use
gyroscope
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A device with a spinning wheel or disc that maintains its orientation and is used to measure or stabilize motion.
Grammar: Countable; plural is gyroscopes. Often used in technical descriptions.
Patterns
- a gyroscope
- gyroscope sensor
- use a gyroscope
- built-in gyroscope
The drone uses a gyroscope to stay balanced in the air.
Engineers installed a gyroscope to keep the satellite pointed at Earth.
A gyroscope in your phone detects when you rotate the screen.
Word forms
| plural | gyroscopes |
|---|
Common combinations
- gyroscope sensor
- The gyroscope sensor in the controller tracks your hand movements.
- mechanical gyroscope
- Early navigation systems relied on a mechanical gyroscope.
- gyroscope effect
- The gyroscope effect keeps the bicycle stable at high speeds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gyro
- A short, informal term for gyroscope, but also used for the Greek sandwich; in technical contexts, gyro is common.
Word family
- gyroscopic adjective
- Relating to or having the properties of a gyroscope.
Commonly confused: gyroscope or gyro?
gyroscope vs gyro
Gyro can mean the same device informally, but it also means a Greek sandwich; gyroscope is the full technical term.
Practice
What is a gyroscope primarily used for?
Choose one answer.
A gyroscope's main function is to maintain orientation and stabilize motion; the other options are unrelated to its purpose.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gyroscope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.