I. ˈrō-tə-rē adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin rotarius, from Latin rota wheel
Date: circa 1731
1.
a. : turning on an axis like a wheel
b. : taking place about an axis
rotary motion
2. : having an important part that turns on an axis
rotary cutter
3. : characterized by rotation
4. : of, relating to, or being a press in which paper is printed by rotation in contact with a curved printing surface attached to a cylinder
II. noun
( plural -ries )
Date: circa 1888
1. : a rotary machine
2. : a road junction formed around a central circle about which traffic moves in one direction only — called also circle, traffic circle