ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rotate

v. · adj.
US //ˈɹoʊˌteɪt// UK //ɹəʊtˈeɪt// ro·tate
  1. 1 to turn in a circle (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to turn or spin around a central point.

    to turn or cause to turn around an axis or center point.

    Example

    The earth rotates once every twenty-four hours.

    Example

    The mechanic demonstrated how the cooling fan rotates at high speeds to prevent the engine from overheating during long journeys.

    Usage

    Can be used with or without a direct object.
  2. 2 to take turns (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to change people or things in a regular order so that everyone or everything has a turn.

    to move or pass through a cycle of changes; to perform a task in a recurring sequence.

    Example

    The teachers rotate the duty of watching the playground during lunch.

    Example

    The hospital staff rotate shifts every month to ensure that no single team is permanently assigned to the grueling overnight hours.

    Usage

    Often used with a direct object like 'shifts', 'crops', or 'roles'.
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  1. 3 to use older stock first (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    to move older items to the front of a shelf so they are used before newer ones.

    to manage inventory by moving older materials to the point of use before newer stock.

    Example

    Supermarket workers rotate the milk cartons so the oldest ones sell first.

    Example

    Effective inventory management requires staff to rotate stock diligently, minimizing waste by ensuring products reach the consumer before their expiration dates.
  2. 4 to lift the nose of a plane (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    to pull the nose of an airplane up just before it leaves the ground.

    to transition an aircraft from a ground roll to a climbing attitude by increasing the pitch.

    Example

    The pilot began to rotate as the plane reached the necessary speed.

    Example

    Upon reaching the calculated takeoff safety speed, the captain began to rotate the aircraft, smoothly lifting the nose wheel off the tarmac.
    • pitch up
  3. 5 wheel-shaped (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Science

    having a shape like a wheel with parts spreading out from the center.

    having a wheel-like shape; specifically used in botany to describe a flat, circular corolla.

    Example

    The flower has a rotate shape with petals spreading out like spokes.

    Example

    The botanist identified the specimen by its rotate corolla, noting the way the petals radiated symmetrically from the central axis.
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).

Word family

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