v.
Pronunciation: ' r ō - ˌ t ā t, esp Brit r ō - '
Function: verb
Inflected Form: ro · tat · ed ; ro · tat · ing
Etymology: Latin rotatus, past participle of rotare, from rota wheel ― more at ROLL
Date: 1785
intransitive verb
1 a : to perform an act, function, or operation in turn b : to pass or alternate in a series
2 : to turn about an axis or a center : REVOLVE especially : to move in such a way that all particles follow circles with a common angular velocity about a common axis
transitive verb
1 a : to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center b : to cause (a plane region or line) to sweep out a volume or surface by moving around an axis so that each of its points remains at a constant distance from the axis <generate a torus by rotating a circle about an external line>
2 : to cause to grow in rotation < rotate crops>
3 : to cause to pass or act in a series : ALTERNATE
4 : to exchange (individuals or units) with others
– ro · tat · able \ ' r ō - ˌ t ā -t ə -b ə l also r ō - ' \ adjective