# revolver

/ɹɪˈvɑɫvɝ/ (US) · /ɹɪvˈɒlvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/revolver
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a handgun

noun · CEFR B2

a handgun that has a spinning cylinder which holds several bullets.

For teachers: a handgun with a revolving cylinder that allows multiple shots to be fired without manual reloading.

- The detective found an old revolver hidden in the desk drawer.
- The museum's collection includes a rare nineteenth-century revolver, notable for its intricate engravings and early mechanical design.

### 2. a flexible bank loan

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of bank loan that a company can use, pay back, and use again whenever they need it.

For teachers: a revolving line of credit that allows a borrower to draw down, repay, and redraw funds up to a specified limit.

- The company used its revolver to pay for the new equipment.
- The corporation secured a five-year revolver to ensure they had sufficient liquidity for their upcoming international expansion.

Usage: Often used as a shorthand for 'revolving credit facility' in corporate finance.

### 3. something that rotates

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person or thing that turns or rotates around a central point.

For teachers: an agent or mechanical device that revolves or causes something to rotate.

- The machine has a small revolver that turns the glass as it cools.
- The industrial design featured a central revolver to distribute the raw materials evenly across the processing belt.

## Examples

- The detective kept a small revolver in his desk drawer.
- Historical western films often feature characters who carry a revolver in a leather holster on their hip.
- Unlike modern semi-automatic pistols that use a detachable magazine, a revolver relies on a rotating cylinder, which generally limits its capacity to five or six rounds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.