rotation

noun

ro·​ta·​tion rō-ˈtā-shən 

1

a(1)

: the action or process of rotating on or as if on an axis or center

(2)

: the act or an instance of rotating something

b

: one complete turn : the angular displacement required to return a rotating body or figure to its original orientation

2

a

: return or succession in a series

rotation of the seasons

b

: crop rotation

3

: the turning of a body part about its long axis as if on a pivot

4

: a game of pool in which all 15 object balls are shot in numerical order

5

: the series of pitchers on a baseball team who regularly start successive games in turn

rotational

rō-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• gyration
• pirouette
• reel
• revolution
• roll
• spin
• twirl
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of rotation in a Sentence

the rotation of the Earth around its axis

the rotation of the Moon around the Earth

The Earth makes one rotation every day.

Alfalfa and corn are planted in rotation.

the rotation of the job of club president

The car needs a tire rotation.

Recent Examples on the Web

At times Sunday night, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was reduced to playing 6-foot-5 Haywood Highsmith in his power rotation, with Highsmith going a surprising 39:37. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2025

This earned a permanent spot in my body scrub rotation. —Audrey Noble, Glamour, 21 Apr. 2025

However, between its strangely obfuscated profiles and overall lack of extra features, Raw shouldn't be the only dating app in your rotation. —PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025

Following a dominant spring training, Meyer secured a spot in the Marlins’ rotation and has since emerged as the team’s most reliable starter. —Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing rotation

• crop rotation
• optical rotation

Rhymes for rotation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

rotation

noun

ro·​ta·​tion rō-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: the act of rotating especially on an axis

b

: one complete turn

2

: crop rotation

rotational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

rotation

noun

ro·​ta·​tion rō-ˈtā-shən 

: the action or process of rotating on or as if on an axis or center

specifically : the turning of a body part about its long axis as if on a pivot

rotation of the head to look over the shoulder

rotational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective