rotate

1 of 2

adjective

ro·​tate ˈrō-ˌtāt How to pronounce rotate (audio)
: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel
rotate blue flowers

rotate

2 of 2

verb

ro·​tate ˈrō-ˌtāt How to pronounce rotate (audio)
 especially British  rō-ˈtāt
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
rotatable
ˈrō-ˌtā-tə-bəl How to pronounce rotate (audio)
 also  rō-ˈtā-
adjective

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
Verb
Aside from those rotating events, there are also some Indy favorites that shouldn't be missed on your visit. The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 Vacuuming The Insider Doormat can cause fiber damage or fraying if your rotating brush settings are not on high. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 On The Daily Show, rotating host Desi Lydic recounted the news and detailed how TikTok is mobilizing young people to stand up against the bill. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 Three buses will rotate between Crooked Handle, Heather's Cafe, The Barrel, Warped Wing, Mr. Boro's and The Eagles. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 There are great new colors as well as a nice rotating list of limited-edition colors and prints. Medea Giordano, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 The stars are held together by gravity, which prevents them being slung into intergalactic space as the galaxies rotate. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 The rotating team that Williams has come to collaborate with backstage includes female braiders scouted for their skills, like Tashana Miles, Kady Balde, Muriel Cole, Drea, and Aminata Kamara. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 But the quarterbacks subsequently rotated in at different times. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin rota

Verb

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

First Known Use

Adjective

1760, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1757, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rotate was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near rotate

Cite this Entry

“Rotate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rotate

verb
ro·​tate
ˈrō-ˌtāt
rotated; rotating
1
: to turn or cause to turn about an axis or a center
the earth rotates
2
a
: to do or cause to do something in turn
b
: to pass in a series
the seasons rotate
3
: to cause to grow one after the other on the same land
rotate alfalfa and corn
rotatable
-ˌtāt-ə-bəl
adjective
rotator
-ˌtāt-ər
noun

Medical Definition

rotate

verb
ro·​tate
ˈrō-ˌtāt, especially British rō-ˈ
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

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