rotate

ro·tate | \ ˈrō-ˌtāt

How to pronounce rotate (audio)

\

Definition of rotate

(Entry 1 of 2)

: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel rotate blue flowers

rotate

ro·tate | \ ˈrō-ˌtāt

How to pronounce rotate (audio)

, especially British rō-ˈtāt \

rotated; rotating

Definition of rotate (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : 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 axis

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from rotate Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about rotate

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Examples of rotate in a Sentence

Verb As the gear rotates, it turns the other gears. The Earth rotates on its axis. The planets rotate around the sun. The software allows you to rotate images. Rotate the sheet of paper 90 degrees. The staff rotates the weekend shift. We rotate—she does the dishes one week; I do them the next. You should rotate your car's tires once a year.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Rotate pie plate about 15° (if the top of the pie is the 12 o’clock mark, turn it to 2 o’clock). — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit, "BA's Best Blueberry Pie," 10 July 2017 Rotate steaks 45 degrees and cook another 2 minutes. — Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Grilled Kansas City Strip Steaks," 3 July 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb To fill the void, one group has started visiting the three pubs in the stadium’s immediate vicinity on a rotating basis, watching old Bury games on tape, doing their bit to help meet the shortfall in the pubs’ income. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "Their Soccer Club Vanished. They Kept Coming.," 3 Dec. 2019 The bags will be exhibited on a rotating basis, available for research, and used as part of the university’s undergraduate Museum and Archives Certificate Program. — John Kelly, Washington Post, "O say, can you crochet? Old plastic shopping bags get new life.," 1 Dec. 2019 Each farmer owns a share and gets deliveries on a rotating basis. — Ian James, azcentral, "Ancient aqueducts in Oman imperiled by modern wells and climate change," 28 Nov. 2019 The theater has produced scores of other musicals; actors hired for the summer season of rotating repertory have been known to work on as many as five shows at once. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Theaters at Pheasant Run and Amish Acres are likely closing, longtime favorites left behind," 20 Nov. 2019 The restaurant will offer its seasonally rotating menu during lunch hours Monday through Friday and will offer catering. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Retail wrap: Euro-Indian café coming to Heights’ M-K-T, Leaf & Grain inks downtown spot; Universal Standard to debut in Montrose," 25 Oct. 2019 Mosquito traps are set Monday – Thursday nights at each site every ten days on a rotating basis. — courant.com, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 17 Oct. 2019 The distillery, which is known for producing nine spirits and seasonally rotating craft cocktail drinks, has been making big moves recently. — Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Hotel Tango is opening a tasting room in Zionsville — and will serve more than cocktails," 17 Oct. 2019 There will also be a rotating menu of tostadas that customers can order at Proof Lab’s bar — and the addition of soft serve ice cream for dessert. — Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, "Hook Fish Co. and Proof Lab to open Mill Valley restaurant and beer garden," 11 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rotate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near rotate

rotary transformer

rotary-wing aircraft

rotating die head

Statistics for rotate

Cite this Entry

“Rotate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 14 December 2019.

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More Definitions for rotate

rotate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of rotate

: to move or turn in a circle

: to regularly change the person who does a particular job so that all the members of a group do it at different times

: to regularly change the place or position of things or people so that each takes the place of another

See the full definition for rotate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rotate

ro·tate | \ ˈrō-ˌtāt

\

rotated; rotating

Kids Definition of rotate

1 : to turn about an axis or a center

2 : to go from one person to another or others in a cycle The staff rotates working weekends.

3 : to pass in a series The seasons rotate.

rotate

ro·tate | \ ˈrō-ˌtāt, especially British rō-ˈ \

rotated; rotating

Medical Definition of rotate

intransitive verb

: to turn about an axis or a center

transitive verb

: to cause to turn about an axis or a center rotate the head

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