See Also: Rotate(medicine)
rotate(1)(dictionary)
rotate(2)(dictionary)
rotate(dictionary)

rotate(2) (iou)



rotate verb. L17.
[Latin rotat- pa. ppl stem of rotare, formed as ROTA: see -ATE3.]
1. verb intrans. & trans. Change in position, responsibility, office, ownership, etc., in a regularly recurring order. Earliest as rotating ppl adjective. L17.
Holiday Which? We are..going to rotate seats so..we all have a chance to sit near the guide. Wall Street Journal In the six months that Spain holds the rotating EC presidency.
b. verb trans. spec. Grow (different crops, plants, etc.) successively on the same piece of ground in a regular order to avoid exhausting the soil; change the position of (tyres) on a motor vehicle to distribute wear. M19.
2. verb intrans. & trans. Turn around a centre or axis (also foll. by about, around); (cause to) revolve on or on a centre or axis. E19.
B. Hines He..rotated his fist to look at his watch on the underside of his wrist. Scientific American Each star..may be rotating on its axis.
3. verb trans. Foll. by out: dismiss (staff) from office or employment in turn. Usu. in pass. L19.
P. Friedman Put in all new people..everybody..on the embassy-based staff now is being rotated out.
4. verb trans. Military. Recall (a unit etc.) from overseas or combat service to a home base or less active area. Also foll. by back. Usu. in pass. US. M20.
rotatable adjective L19.
rotatory adjective (a) = ROTARY adjective 1, 2; (b) recurring in rotation: M18.