1
a
: a part that revolves in a stationary part
a brake rotor
b
: the rotating member of an electrical machine
2
: an assembly of rotating blades that supplies lift or stability for a rotorcraft
Examples of rotor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most powerful brakes ever fitted to a Hyundai integrate massive 40-cm front rotors and 36-cm rear rotors.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2024
Others use a tilting mechanism—imagine if a helicopter rotor rotated forward to become a propeller.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Mast removed the 1950s belts and rotors, refurbished them and put them back.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Twin-screw is an evolution of the Roots brothers’ design, using specific rotor shapes to compress air as the rotors turn.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Save water by either changing traditional rotor irrigation heads to MP rotator heads or converting it to drip irrigation.
—Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024
Most street cars use iron brake rotors with single-piston steel calipers.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Wisk’s design employs rotors that operate vertically for lift and then tilt horizontally for thrust.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
At some point, the hugeness of modern-day military hardware, much of it digitally rendered, sweeps in, the pounding rotors of helicopters and urban street-clearing machinery orchestrated into an overwhelming last act.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2024
Others use a tilting mechanism—imagine if a helicopter rotor rotated forward to become a propeller.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Mast removed the 1950s belts and rotors, refurbished them and put them back.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Twin-screw is an evolution of the Roots brothers’ design, using specific rotor shapes to compress air as the rotors turn.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Save water by either changing traditional rotor irrigation heads to MP rotator heads or converting it to drip irrigation.
—Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024
Most street cars use iron brake rotors with single-piston steel calipers.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Wisk’s design employs rotors that operate vertically for lift and then tilt horizontally for thrust.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
At some point, the hugeness of modern-day military hardware, much of it digitally rendered, sweeps in, the pounding rotors of helicopters and urban street-clearing machinery orchestrated into an overwhelming last act.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rotor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotor. Accessed 7 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rotor
noun
ro·tor
ˈrōt-ər 
1
: a part that rotates in a stationary part (as in an electrical machine)
2
: a complete system of rotating blades that support a helicopter in flight
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