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- pronunciation:
- ro
teIt
- features:
- Language Note, Word Builder, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
rotates, rotating, rotated |
| definition 1: |
When you rotate something, you make it turn around on an axis.
The teacher rotated the globe to show how the earth turns.Jordan likes to sit on a certain chair in his dad's office and rotate it so he can go around and around.- synonyms:
- roll, spin, turn, wheel
- similar words:
- circle, twirl, twist, whirl
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| definition 2: |
If someone rotates the people of a group, they let each person have a turn to do something. If someone's turn comes up again, they can go again.
The coach rotated the players during practice to let each one learn how to play the different positions.- synonyms:
- alternate, shift
- similar words:
- switch
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| definition 3: |
When farmers rotate their crops, they don't plant the same crops every year. For example, they might plant one crop in one year and a different crop in the next. Each different crop is given a turn.
The farmer rotates his crops so that he plants corn one year and beans the next.- similar words:
- alternate, shift
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| definition 4: |
When something rotates, it turns on or around a central point.
The little girl spent several minutes spinning her top and watching it rotate.- synonyms:
- revolve, roll
- similar words:
- circle, spin, twirl, whirl
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| definition 5: |
When people rotate, they take turns in a certain order.
The nurses rotated every eight hours.- synonyms:
- alternate
- similar words:
- proceed, progress, take turns
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| related words: |
turn, twist |
| derivation: |
rotatable (adj.) |
Rotate and revolve are often confused. Both of these words describe the motion of Earth and other planets, moons, and stars. Rotate means to spin around an axis. Earth rotates completely in about 24 hours. Each rotation is one day.Revolve means to travel in a curved path around a central object. Earth revolves around the sun in about 365.25 days. Each revolution is one year.
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