Etymology : Latin rota
Pronunciation : 'rO-"tAt
Function : adjective
Date : 1785
1. cause to spin, cause to revolve around a central axis; spin or revolve around a central axis. rotate\ro"tate\ , a. [l. rotatus, p. p. of rotare to turn round like a wheel, fr. rota wheel. see:
rotary, and cf. roue.] having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as, a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one.rotate \ro"tate\ , v. i. [imp. & p. p. rotated ; p. pr. & vb. n. rotating.].
2. to turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve.
3. to perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office.rotate \ro"tate\, v. i.
4. to cause to turn round or revolve, as a wheel around an axle.
5. to cause to succeed in turn; esp., to cause to succeed some one, or to be succeeded by some one, in office. [colloq.] "both, after a brief service, were rotated out of office."rotate v.
6. turn on or around an axis or a center; "the earth revolves around the sun"; "the lamb roast rotates on a spit over the fire" [syn: revolve, go around].
7. exchange on a regular basis; "we rotate the lead soprano every night".
8. cause to turn on an axis or center; "rotate the handle" [syn: circumvolve].
9. perform a job or duty on a rotating basis; "interns have to rotate for a few months".
10. Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as, a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one.
11. To turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve.
12. To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office.
13. To cause to turn round or revolve, as a wheel around an axle.
14. To cause to succeed in turn; esp., to cause to succeed some one, or to be succeeded by some one, in office. plant or grow in a fixed cyclic order of succession; "We rotate the crops so as to maximize the use of the soil" perform a job or duty on a rotating basis; "Interns have to rotate for a few months" cause to turn on an axis or center; "Rotate the handle" exchange on a regular basis; "We rotate the lead soprano every night".
15. 1. When something rotates or when you rotate it, it turns with a circular movement. The Earth rotates round the sun Take each foot in both your hands and rotate it to loosen and relax the ankle.
16. If people or things rotate, or if someone rotates them, they take it in turns to do a particular job or serve a particular purpose. The members of the club can rotate and one person can do all the preparation for the evening They will swap posts in a year's time, according to new party rules which rotate the leadership. + rotating ro·tat·ing The European Union's rotating presidency passed from Sweden to Belgium.