rotate

[ roh-teyt or, especially British, roh-teyt ]

See synonyms for: rotate rotated rotating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing.

to cause to turn around an axis or center point; revolve.
to cause to go through a cycle of changes; cause to pass or follow in a fixed routine of succession: to rotate farm crops.

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

verb (used without object),ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing.

to turn around on or as if on an axis.
to proceed in a fixed routine of succession: The sentries rotated in keeping watch.

Origin of rotate

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-ate¹

synonym study For rotate

1. See turn.

Other words for rotate

1	wheel, whirl

See synonyms for rotate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from rotate

ro·tat·a·ble, adjective
ro·tat·a·bly, adverb
non·ro·tat·a·ble, adjective
non·ro·tat·ing, adjective
un·ro·tat·ed, adjective
un·ro·tat·ing, adjective

Words Nearby rotate

Other definitions for rotate (2 of 2)

rotate²

[ roh-teyt ]

adjective

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

Origin of rotate

1775–85; <Latin rot(a) wheel + -ate¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rotate in a sentence

He rotated in for fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic in the second set, later crediting his return to the cheering crowd.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, out of quarantine, thankful to play in front of thousands of fans | Glynn A. Hill | January 30, 2021 | Washington Post
All of them allow players to rotate the barrel and adjust the position of that ridge.
Nerf’s newest blaster shoots spinning balls for dramatic curves | Stan Horaczek | January 27, 2021 | Popular-Science
Being able to rotate your collection as you rotate through seasonal colors is a slick, stylish option for organization.
Nail polish organizers to keep your collection in check | PopSci Commerce Team | January 20, 2021 | Popular-Science
Allowing for dynamic keyword inclusion and rotating ad copy narratives is just the beginning of fully automated contextual success.
2021 Search marketing: The year of automation | Merkle Inc. | January 20, 2021 | Search Engine Watch
Google Adwords rotates ads automatically within the ad group and displays, more often, the better-performing one.
Ways to get the most out of your Google Adwords PPC strategy | Jacob M. | January 19, 2021 | Search Engine Watch

According to his suit, Carleton would rotate four new boys into his home every semester.
Headmasters Behaving Badly | Emily Shire | November 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In an airline seat, the hips and pelvis rotate forward and the S curve flattens.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room | Clive Irving | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
As the panels rotate to track the sun, they produce more than enough power to move skiiers up the mountain.
Solar Powered Ski Lift | The Daily Beast | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
rotate those chairs, and senators might rotate back to their states earlier than usual.
A Conservative Explains Why The GOP Could Lose | Bill Whalen | November 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Each facility has a Rabbi, though some of the smaller ones have traveling Rabbis that rotate from joint to joint.
A Jewish Ex-Con Recalls Keeping Kosher with the Faithful in Prison | Daniel Genis | May 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We must add that this vast world, like the Sun, does not rotate all in one period.
Astronomy for Amateurs | Camille Flammarion
The most curious fact is that these satellites do not rotate like those of the other planets.
Astronomy for Amateurs | Camille Flammarion
It would rotate for hours like on a spit—almost no friction.
The Planet Strappers | Raymond Zinke Gallun
The ortho molecules rotate with odd rotational quantum numbers, while the para molecules rotate with even quantum numbers.
Unwise Child | Gordon Randall Garrett
It is only necessary to rotate the desired jet into position in order to connect it with both gas and air supplies.
A Handbook of Laboratory Glass-Blowing | Bernard D. Bolas

British Dictionary definitions for rotate

rotate

verb(rəʊˈteɪt)

to turn or cause to turn around an axis, line, or point; revolve or spin
to follow or cause to follow a set order or sequence

(of a position, presidency, etc) to pass in turn from one eligible party to each of the other eligible parties
(of staff) to replace or be replaced in turn

adjective(ˈrəʊteɪt)

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

Derived forms of rotate

rotatable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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