rotor

[roh-ter]

noun

1. Electricity.,  a rotating member of a machine.

2. Aeronautics.,  a system of rotating airfoils, as the horizontal ones of a helicopter or of the compressor of a jet engine.

3. any of a number of tall, cylindrical devices mounted on a special ship rotor ship and rotated in such a way that the Magnus effect of wind impinging on the cylinders is used to drive and maneuver the vessel.

4. (in a self-winding watch) a weight eccentrically mounted on an arbor for keeping the mainspring wound.

rotor

/ ˈrəʊtə /

noun

1. the rotating member of a machine or device, esp the armature of a motor or generator or the rotating assembly of a turbine Compare stator

2. a device having blades radiating from a central hub that is rotated to produce thrust to lift and propel a helicopter

3. the revolving arm of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine

4. a violent rolling wave of air occurring in the lee of a mountain or hill, in which the air rotates about a horizontal axis

Word History and Origins

Origin of rotor¹

First recorded in 1873; short for rotator

Word History and Origins

Origin of rotor¹

C20: shortened form of _rotator

Example Sentences

On 11 January, the crew said they were woken by the sound of helicopter rotors overhead and a US Navy ship pulling alongside.

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As the wings begin to generate lift, the rotors’ pace slackens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Now the pioneering Flettner rotors are being used on at least 35 commercial freight ships to improve fuel efficiency and reduce their impact on the climate.

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A tweet about Tuesday’s announcement included a video showing a spinning wheel with a Tesla logo that could have been the rotor of a Tesla eVTOL, or quadcopter drone.

Read more on Barron's

It appeared that the helicopter augered into the dirt embankment on the side of the highway, tearing up weeds with its tail rotor before skidding across five freeway lanes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times