rotary

1 of 2

adjective

ro·​ta·​ry ˈrō-tə-rē How to pronounce rotary (audio)
1
a
: turning on an axis like a wheel
b
: taking place about an axis
rotary motion
2
: having an important part that turns on an axis
rotary cutter
3
: characterized by rotation
4
: of, relating to, or being a press in which paper is printed by rotation in contact with a curved printing surface attached to a cylinder

rotary

2 of 2

noun

plural rotaries
1
: a rotary machine
2
: a road junction formed around a central circle about which traffic moves in one direction only

called also circle, traffic circle

Examples of rotary in a Sentence

Adjective the rotary action of the wheel
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Included in the kit are six professional grade pop-up rotary sprinklers, a timer, 125 feet of tubing, extra nozzles for the sprinklers, drain valves, and all the fittings. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 Over the past decade, Sikorsky Innovations has been working to solve technological challenges regarding rotary wing speed, autonomy, and intelligence. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 Complicating the rescue and snow removal work were rocks, debris and tree branches mixed in the snow, broken off as avalanches gushed down pine and birch forest slopes toward a river valley, rendering rotary snowplow vehicles useless. Reuters, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2024 The rotary encoder is fitting in the centre of the board, but this could course be moved to elsewhere and attached via flying leads. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2024 Despite the ample amount of screen space, the vehicle will still have physical controls like a start button and a rotary shift dial, both of which are located on the center console. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2024 The rotary knob is also fully configurable, and is set to control volume by default. PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023 The presence of a rotary cutting blade and a fine blade that slices through over 300 materials, including fabric and leather, makes this Cricut Maker a sewer’s dream come true. Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2024 Both vessels and the Bataan can support rotary aircraft; the Bataan can also carry and support Marine Corps’ F-35 vertical takeoff fighter aircraft. Tara Copp, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2024
Noun
What to Know About Cheese Graters Before Shopping Style There are four different styles of graters: box, rotary, flat, and rasp (commonly known as a Microplane or zester). Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2024 For those who sew, Cricut models like the Cricut Maker come with a rotary cutting blade that easily cuts through fabrics and leather. Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2024 Unlike in a traditional hybrid, the Iconic SP’s rotary doesn’t actually power the wheels. Daniel Golson, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2023 In games of Top Trumps, the V12 might have been king, but a rotary was a joker, a wild card. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 13 Nov. 2023 The rotary can burn carbon-neutral fuels, including hydrogen, and depending on charge, the Iconic SP can be driven under electric power only. Daniel Golson, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2023 Police responded at 1:14 a.m. Saturday to reports that a vehicle had struck a telephone pole near the Route 103 rotary, according to Somerset police. Collin Robisheaux, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 Officers arrived at the rotary to find DeForitis and the motorcycle driver lying in the roadway. Collin Robisheaux, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 The rotary spins willingly enough, and staying above 4000 rpm brings the extra benefit of avoiding the annoying throttle dashpot that otherwise makes smooth shifting impossible. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin rotarius, from Latin rota wheel

First Known Use

Adjective

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rotary was in 1704

Dictionary Entries Near rotary

Cite this Entry

“Rotary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rotary

1 of 2 adjective
ro·​ta·​ry ˈrōt-ə-rē How to pronounce rotary (audio)
1
a
: turning on an axis like a wheel
a rotary blade
b
: taking place about an axis
rotary motion
2
: having a rotating part
a rotary lawn mower

rotary

2 of 2 noun
plural rotaries
1
: a rotary machine
2
: a road junction formed around a central circle about which traffic moves in one direction only
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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