ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rotate

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɹoʊˌteɪt// UK //ɹəʊtˈeɪt// ro·tate

v. to turn in a circle around a center point, like a wheel or the Earth. It can also mean to take turns doing a job in a specific order.

v. to turn or cause to turn around an axis or center point. Also used to describe the systematic alternation of people or things in a sequence to distribute tasks or wear evenly.


SIMPLE

The Earth takes twenty-four hours to rotate once.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager decided to rotate the staff every three months so everyone could learn how to use the new software.

COMPLEX

By choosing to rotate the crops each season, the farmer ensures that the soil remains nutrient-rich and prevents the buildup of pests that target specific plants.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin rotātus, perfect passive participle of rotō (“revolve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from rota (“wheel”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

Usage

The verb can be used both transitively and intransitively.

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