rotate

¹ American  

[roh-teyt, roh-teyt] / ˈroʊ teɪt, roʊˈteɪt /

verb (used with object)

rotates, present (3rd person singular) rotated, past participle, past rotating present participle

1. to cause to turn around an axis or center point; revolve.

   Synonyms:

   whirl, wheel

2. to cause to go through a cycle of changes; cause to pass or follow in a fixed routine of succession.

   to rotate farm crops.

3. to replace (a person, troops, etc.) by another or others, usually according to a schedule or plan.

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verb (used without object)

rotates, present (3rd person singular) rotated, past participle, past rotating present participle

1. to turn around on or as if on an axis.

2. to proceed in a fixed routine of succession.

   The sentries rotated in keeping watch.

rotate ² American  

[roh-teyt] / ˈroʊ teɪt /

adjective

1. wheel-shaped: applied especially to a gamopetalous short-tubed corolla with a spreading limb.

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rotate British  

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn around an axis, line, or point; revolve or spin

2. to follow or cause to follow a set order or sequence

3. (of a position, presidency, etc) to pass in turn from one eligible party to each of the other eligible parties

4. (of staff) to replace or be replaced in turn

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adjective

1. botany designating a corolla the united petals of which radiate from a central point like the spokes of a wheel

Synonym Usage

See turn.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rotatably
  adverb
• nonrotatable
  adjective
• nonrotating
  adjective
• rotatable
  adjective
• unrotating
  adjective
• unrotated
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has rotated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have rotated
  perfect
• is rotating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are rotating
  progressive
• rotating
  participle
• have been rotating
  perfect progressive
• has been rotating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am rotating
  progressive 1st person singular
• rotates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had rotated
  perfect
• were rotating
  progressive plural
• rotated
  participle
• had been rotating
  perfect progressive
• was rotating
  progressive singular
• rotated
  simple

Future

• will rotate
  simple
• will have rotated
  perfect
• will have been rotating
  perfect progressive
• will be rotating
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of rotate¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin rotātus (past participle of rotāre “to cause to spin, roll, move in a circle”), equivalent to rot(a) “wheel” + -ātus -ate ¹

Origin of rotate²

1775–85; < Latin rot ( a ) wheel + -ate ¹

Explanation

Rotate means to circle around a center point. Wheels on a car rotate, planets rotate, and if you're an ice skater, you rotate on the blade of a skate when you do your spins. Rotate can also mean that you take turns performing a job. If you, Jim, and Shelia all got the same amount of votes in the class election, you could rotate the role of treasurer, meaning the position would pass from one to another in a regular pattern. Rotate can also refer to other things that are passed along in a regular order. You might rotate lawn duties with your brother — that means you mow the lawn one week and he mows it the next.

Related Words

• pivot
• revolve
• spin
• swivel
• twirl
• twist
• whirl