CultureAugust 17, 2026

tourbillon

toor-BILL-yon

Definition

A complex mechanism in a luxury mechanical watch designed to counteract the effects of gravity on accuracy.

Etymology

Derived from the French word for 'whirlwind' or 'vortex,' coined by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795 to describe the rotating cage of his mechanism.

In the news

The article uses the term to identify a specific, highly expensive watch model worn by Dwayne Johnson, emphasizing its extreme luxury status.

Celebrities and CEOs mixed Disney style with luxury status symbols at the D23 event. Here's what they wore.

Read the full article ↗

Business Insider

Related words

bodice

The part of a dress that covers a person's torso, extending from the neck to the waist.

Culture

caricature

A theatrical or artistic representation that exaggerates specific traits, behaviors, or…

Culture

communion

The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, or a state of close,…

Culture

cosplays

The practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, typically…

Culture

exhilarating

Causing strong feelings of excitement, happiness, or stimulation.

Culture

gouache

A type of opaque watercolor paint characterized by a high pigment concentration and a…

Culture

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.