Main Entry: ²ro·tate

Pronunciation: \ˈrō-ˌtāt, especially British rō-ˈ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): ro·tat·ed; ro·tat·ing

Etymology: Latin rotatus, past participle of rotare, from rota wheel — more at roll

Date: 1785

intransitive verb 1 a : to perform an act, function, or operation in turn b : to pass or alternate in a series
2 : to turn about an axis or a center : revolve; especially : to move in such a way that all particles follow circles with a common angular velocity about a common axistransitive verb 1 a : to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center b : to cause (a plane region or line) to sweep out a volume or surface by moving around an axis so that each of its points remains at a constant distance from the axis <generate a torus by rotating a circle about an external line>
2 : to cause to grow in rotation <rotate crops>
3 : to cause to pass or act in a series : alternate
4 : to exchange (individuals or units) with others

— ro·tat·able \ˈrō-ˌtā-tə-bəl also rō-ˈ\ adjective