Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

rota

noun ro·ta \ ˈrō-tə \
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Definition of rota

1 capitalized
[Medieval Latin, from Latin]
: a tribunal of the papal curia exercising jurisdiction especially in matrimonial cases appealed from diocesan courts
2 chiefly British
a : a fixed order of rotation (as of persons or duties)
b : a roll or list of persons : roster

See rota defined for English-language learners

Examples of rota in a Sentence

  1. a rota of housekeeping duties

Origin and Etymology of rota

Latin, wheel — more at roll

Rota

biographical name Ro·ta \ ˈrō-(ˌ)tä \

Definition of Rota

Nino 1911–1979 Italian composer

Rota

geographical name Ro·ta \ ˈrō-tə \

Definition of Rota

1 island in the western Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the Mariana Islands area 35 square miles (91 square kilometers)
2 town and port on the Atlantic Ocean in southwestern Spain population 29,136

ROTA Defined for English Language Learners

rota

noun

Definition of rota for English Language Learners

  • : a list that shows who must do a certain job

Learn More about rota

  1. See words that rhyme with rota Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rota

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up rota? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

play

unwilling or reluctant

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  2. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  3. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  4. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  5. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

rot
rota

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

  • image1926873504
  • Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5adf93a49b0b2
The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf
‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c
'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Bee Cubed
Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game
Examples: rota in a Sentence