rotor
noun
ro·tor ˈrō-tər 
1
a
: a part that revolves in a stationary part
a brake rotor
b
: the rotating member of an electrical machine
2
: an assembly of rotating blades that supplies lift or stability for a rotorcraft
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Their tan and green camouflage cut across the pale gray sky as the bone-rattling sound of their rotor blades mixed with the crescendo of automatic fire. 
New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 In May, a Yorkshire terrier named Pepper thwarted an attempt to smuggle 11 handguns across the border from Michigan to Ontario using a six-rotor drone. Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 But after the chopper landed, Jack Fenton, 22, from Kent, died after walking into a still spinning rotor blade on the Bell 407. Fox News, 26 July 2022 Electric motors use rotating electromagnetic fields to spin a rotor. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 Sounds reminiscent of a spinning helicopter rotor are audible. Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 An underappreciated way to do that is with a larger rotor. Outside Online, 27 May 2022 The motion of wind rotates the large blades of the turbine, which in turn rotates a rotor in the square box at the top of the turbine, called a nacelle. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2021 Eric Bach took us around each of these elements, particularly proud of the internal rotor differential integrated into the electric motor. Laura Burstein, Robb Report, 19 July 2022 See More
New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 In May, a Yorkshire terrier named Pepper thwarted an attempt to smuggle 11 handguns across the border from Michigan to Ontario using a six-rotor drone. Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 But after the chopper landed, Jack Fenton, 22, from Kent, died after walking into a still spinning rotor blade on the Bell 407. Fox News, 26 July 2022 Electric motors use rotating electromagnetic fields to spin a rotor. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 Sounds reminiscent of a spinning helicopter rotor are audible. Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 An underappreciated way to do that is with a larger rotor. Outside Online, 27 May 2022 The motion of wind rotates the large blades of the turbine, which in turn rotates a rotor in the square box at the top of the turbine, called a nacelle. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2021 Eric Bach took us around each of these elements, particularly proud of the internal rotor differential integrated into the electric motor. Laura Burstein, Robb Report, 19 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
contraction of rotator
First Known Use
1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing rotor
Kids Definition
rotor
noun
ro·tor ˈrō-tər
1
: the part of an electrical machine that turns
2
: a system of spinning horizontal blades that support a helicopter in the air