Definition of rotate
:having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel
- rotate blue flowers
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Recent Examples of rotate from the Web
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Rotate pie plate about 15° (if the top of the pie is the 12 o’clock mark, turn it to 2 o’clock).
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Rotate steaks 45 degrees and cook another 2 minutes.
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.
Origin and Etymology of rotate
Other Botany Terms
Definition of rotate
rotated;
rotating
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 axis
transitive 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
Examples of rotate in a Sentence
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 of rotate from the Web
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Smith and 2016 seventh-round pick Clayton Fejedelem were already rotating as Guenther looked to find out who would be first off the bench in the regular season.
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Exhausted paddlers rotate out of the canoe during the race, jumping into the water to be scooped up by a waiting motorboat.
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Third-year sophomore Amonte Caban got the most first-team reps during spring ball, but juniors London Iakopo and Isaac Stewart and sophomore Malik Staples all could rotate in this month.
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There was also a representation of the motion of the planets in the solar system, the signal from a rotating neutron star, gravitational waves stretching the space-time.
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Responsibility for the event rotates among Mobile Bay yacht clubs.
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Forward-deployed now to patrol the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the Coronado is staffed by rotating crews from San Diego that fly to its secondary port in Singapore.
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Place pan in oven, rotating halfway through until batter is set, top is dark golden brown and starting to crack.
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CT scanners create a 3-D image that can be rotated to give screeners a better look.
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.
Origin and Etymology of rotate
ROTATE Defined for English Language Learners
rotate
play
verb
Definition of rotate for English Language Learners
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: to move or turn in a circle
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: to regularly change the person who does a particular job so that all the members of a group do it at different times
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: to regularly change the place or position of things or people so that each takes the place of another
ROTATE Defined for Kids
rotate
play
verb
ro·tate
\
ˈrō-ˌtāt
\
Definition of rotate for Students
rotated;
rotating
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.
Medical Dictionary
rotate
verb
ro·tate
\
ˈrō-ˌtāt, esp British rō-ˈ
\
medical Definition of rotate
rotated;
rotating
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
Learn More about rotate
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See words that rhyme with rotate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rotate Spanish Central: Translation of rotate Nglish: Translation of rotate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rotate for Arabic speakers
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