French Conversation · Level 67
60 words
French word
graviter
Pronunciation
IPA/gʁavite/
Meaning
- verborbit
Example
La Terre gravite autour du Soleil.
The Earth orbits the Sun.
More examples
Dans l'association, plusieurs membres gravitent autour du fondateur.
In the association, several members gravitate toward the founder.
Core concept
A body or stream of attention orbiting a central point, person, or idea.
Common phrases
graviter autour d'un thème
center around a theme
graviter autour d'un sujet
revolve around a subject
graviter vers un groupe
gravitate toward a group
Similar words
tourner autour de: To move around something in a circular or orbiting path.
faire le tour de: To go all the way around something once.
être attiré par: To be emotionally or intellectually drawn to something.
Definition in French
Être attiré ou se déplacer autour d'un centre sous l'effet d'une attraction, au sens propre comme au sens figuré (se concentrer autour d'une personne ou d'une idée).
Word origin
French graviter derives from Latin gravitare, related to gravitas, 'weight', and its orbital sense reflects the scientific vocabulary of gravité.
Usage tips
- Graviter takes autour de for its center, as in graviter autour du Soleil, and sounds more formal than tourner autour de.
Other meanings
- revolve around ___verb
- gravitate toward ___verb
Opposites
- s'écartermove awayverb
- repousserpush awayverb
Related words
- gravitationnelgravitationaladjective
- gravitationgravitationnoun