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

Then the managers rotate, and one of those two teams gets a top-performing leader while the other team gets another lesser chief.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Currently limited to one East Hollywood location, “DMV” rotates around Harriet Dyer as Colette, a young woman who gives driving tests, is desperately overqualified for her job and is far too nice for it anyway.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These winds stir up dust into swirling columns called dust devils—rotating plumes of air and fine particles that sweep across the Martian surface.

Read more on Science Daily

Because they are rotating chaotically, different parts of the surface are absorbing and re-emitting heat at any given time.

Read more on Science Daily

Such jets are also generated by other rotating black holes.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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