What term describes the circular motion of Earth around its own axis?

The term that describes the circular motion of Earth around its own axis is "rotation." When Earth rotates, it spins in a circular motion, completing one full turn approximately every 24 hours. This rotation is responsible for the cycle of day and night, as different parts of the Earth receive sunlight or are in shadow at different times.

In contrast, "revolution" refers to the movement of Earth around the Sun, which takes about one year to complete. "Precession" describes the gradual shift in the orientation of Earth's axis due to gravitational forces exerted by the Sun and the Moon, impacting the long-term stability of Earth's rotational axis. "Orbit" generally describes the path that an object takes as it moves around another object in space, most commonly used when discussing the gravitational paths of planets around the Sun or moons around planets. Thus, "rotation" is the accurate term for Earth's spin on its axis.