Definition

Noun: 1. A door consisting of four orthogonal partitions that rotate about a central pivot; a door designed to equalize air pressure in tall buildings: A type of entrance with typically three or four glass panels that rotate around a central vertical axis, allowing people to enter and exit simultaneously while minimizing the exchange of air between the inside and outside of a building. 2. An organization or institution with a high rate of turnover of personnel or membership: A metaphorical term describing a situation where people frequently enter and leave a position, group, or institution, suggesting instability or a lack of permanence.

Usage and Examples

• Literal Meaning (Door):
  • Please use the revolving door on the left; it helps keep the lobby warm.
  • The building's architect specified a large revolving door for the main entrance to improve energy efficiency.
• Figurative Meaning (High Turnover):
  • The department became a revolving door for managers, with three different heads in one year.
  • There is a revolving door between the regulatory agency and the companies it oversees, with officials frequently taking high-paying jobs in the industry.

Advanced Usage

• "Revolving-door" (used attributively as an adjective): Describes a policy, system, or situation characterized by the frequent movement of people.
  • Critics point to the revolving-door policy that allows lobbyists to easily become legislators.
  • The company faces allegations of revolving-door corruption.

Variants and Related Words

• Revolve (verb): To move in a circle around a central point.
• Turnover (noun): The rate at which employees leave and are replaced.
• Rotating door (noun): A less common synonym for the literal door mechanism.

Synonyms

• For the figurative sense: High turnover, rapid succession, constant change, instability.
• For the literal sense: Rotary door, automatic door (though technically different).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Like a revolving door": An adverbial phrase used to emphasize the constant and rapid change.
  • Celebrities have been coming through that club like a revolving door this summer.
• "The revolving door of...": A common phrase structure to introduce the context of high turnover.
  • The revolving door of fashion trends makes it hard to keep up.

Noun

1. a door consisting of four orthogonal partitions that rotate about a central pivot; a door designed to equalize the air pressure in tall buildings
2. an organization or institution with a high rate of turnover of personnel or membership