rotate

¹

[roh-teyt, roh-teyt]

verb (used with object)

rotated, rotating 

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.

verb (used without object)

rotated, rotating 

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

[roh-teyt]

adjective

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

rotate

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

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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

Synonym Study

See turn.

Example Sentences

A helpful way to picture them is to imagine manipulating a Rubik's cube in several dimensions at once by rotating, slicing, or rearranging its layers.

Read more on Science Daily

But the return of their England star was a welcome boost for manager Andree Jeglertz, who knows he will need to rotate throughout the campaign to maintain their advantage.

Read more on BBC

Trading this week suggested at least some investors took the opportunity to rotate money away from the market’s jet fuel this year—AI—and into more defensive sectors.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They periodically see drawdowns, as investors sell these assets and book profits, and then rotate into cheaper areas of the market.

Read more on Barron's

It differs from our Sun in several key ways: it has about half the Sun's mass, it rotates 20 times faster, and its magnetic field is an estimated 300 times stronger.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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