Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

specific rotation

noun

Definition of specific rotation 

: the angle of rotation in degrees of the plane of polarization of a ray of monochromatic light that passes through a tube 1 decimeter long containing the substance in solution at a concentration of 1 gram per millimeter in a polarimeter

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about specific rotation

Share specific rotation

Resources for specific rotation

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near specific rotation

specific rate

specific refractivity

specific resistance

specific rotation

specific stain

specific surface

specific volume

Statistics for specific rotation

Look-up Popularity

Comments on specific rotation

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nary

not any or not one

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

  • scrabble-tiles-that-read-scrabble-quiz
  • Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

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

Ask the Editors

Word Games