gyroscope
UK[ˈdʒaɪ.rə.skəʊp]US[ˈdʒaɪ.rə.skoʊp]
n
a device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so that it can spin rapidly about an axis which is itself free to alter in direction, used to maintain orientation and stability.
n
something that is stable and resists change.
Morpheme Breakdown
gyro
scope
gyro
rotation
scope
instrument for viewing/observing
Etymology
the word gyroscope is a modern scientific compound, coined in the 19th century from two ancient greek roots. the first part, 'gyro-', derives from 'gyros', meaning 'circle' or 'ring', which in turn relates to the proto-indo-european root geu- meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve'. the second part, '-scope', comes from 'skopein', meaning 'to look at' or 'to observe', from pie spek- 'to observe'. the literal combination, 'to observe rotation', aptly describes the instrument's function of visually demonstrating and measuring the principles of rotational motion and angular momentum, a meaning that has extended metaphorically to describe any stabilizing force.
Analysis
Structure: gyro (rotation) + scope (instrument for viewing/observing)
gyro (from greek 'gyros', meaning 'circle' or 'rotation'), scope (from greek 'skopein', meaning 'to look at' or 'to examine')
Examples
the gyroscope in the spacecraft's navigation system helps keep it on a steady course.
the spinning gyroscope resists changes to its orientation due to the conservation of angular momentum.
throughout the political turmoil, the constitution acted as a gyroscope for the nation.