rotate

Formsrotates, rotating, rotated

1. 1
   verbintransitive

   To spin or turn around and around, the way a wheel or a top does.

   Like a spinning top that turns around and around in one spot.

   Fans rotate to push air around the room.

   The big wheel at the fair rotates slowly above the crowd.

   Similarspin, turn, revolve, pivot, swivel

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To make something spin or turn, like turning a key or a doorknob.

   Rotate the handle to open the window.

   She rotated the photo so it was right side up.

   Similarturn, spin, twist, swivel, revolve

3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To take turns doing something, one after another.

   Like children taking turns on a slide: each child slides down, then goes to the back of the line.

   The players rotate so everyone gets a chance to serve.

   We rotate between cooking and cleaning up each night.

   Similaralternate, cycle

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To move people or things through a set of jobs or places, taking turns.

   The coach rotates the players so no one gets too tired.

   We rotate the chores at home every week.

   Similarcycle, alternate, shuffle, switch

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To plant different crops in the same field in a planned order, year after year.

   Farmers rotate their crops to keep the soil healthy.

   Grandpa rotates corn and beans in his field every year.

   Similaralternate

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To put older things in front of newer ones so people use the old ones first.

   Workers rotate the milk so the oldest cartons sell first.

   She rotated the canned food in the pantry, moving the old cans to the front.

   Note
7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To tilt the nose of a plane up just before it leaves the ground.

   The plane rotated and climbed into the sky.

   Watch the jet rotate as it speeds down the runway.

   Note
8. 8
   adjective

   Shaped like a wheel, with parts spreading out from the center.

   The little blue flower is rotate, with five flat petals like the spokes of a wheel.

   Tomato plants have rotate flowers that open out flat.

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 8