revolution / rotation
Loading your saved state.
revolution / rotation
The complete rotation of an object around an axis or a central point. Often used as a unit of measurement for rotational speed.
Der Motor läuft mit 3000 Umdrehungen pro Minute.
The engine runs at 3,000 revolutions per minute.
The word is made up of the prefix 'um-' and the noun 'Drehung' (rotation/turn). 'Um-' describes a circular movement, and 'Drehung' comes from the verb 'drehen' (to turn). So 'Umdrehung' (revolution/rotation) is literally a complete turn around a point.
Die Erde macht in 24 Stunden eine Umdrehung um sich selbst.
The Earth makes one rotation around itself in 24 hours.
In technical contexts, the word is often used as a unit of measurement for speed, usually in the fixed combination 'Umdrehungen pro Minute' (revolutions per minute). The abbreviation for this is 'U/min' (rpm).
Die Waschmaschine schleudert mit 1400 Umdrehungen pro Minute.
The washing machine spins at 1,400 revolutions per minute.
The colloquial meaning of hectic activity or excitement exists only in the fixed expressions 'in Umdrehungen kommen' (to get worked up/hectic) and 'in Umdrehungen sein' (to be worked up/hectic).
Vor der Präsentation war der Redner sichtlich in Umdrehungen.
Before the presentation, the speaker was visibly worked up.
tour
'die Tour' and 'die Umdrehung' are not true synonyms here, but they can seem similar in colloquial expressions. 'Tour' can pejoratively mean exaggerated fussing or a bad mood. 'Umdrehung' is used in the phrase 'in Umdrehungen kommen' (to get worked up) more for hectic activity, excitement, or nervous energy. The words can be confused because both can have something to do with restless behavior in informal language. The fixed expression is important: you are more likely to say 'mit dieser Tour aufhören' (to stop this act / fuss), but 'in Umdrehungen kommen' (to get worked up).
Vor der Prüfung kommt Tom schnell in Umdrehungen und redet sehr viel.
Before the exam, Tom quickly gets worked up and talks a lot.
Hör bitte mit dieser Tour auf; wir können ruhig darüber sprechen.
Please stop this fuss; we can talk about it calmly.