rotary1
/ˈrəʊt(ə)ri
/adjective
1(Of motion) revolving around a centre or axis; rotational.No mention is made of rotary motion from the elbow or lateral movement from the wrist....
- The back and forth movement of each piston was translated into rotary motion by a crank shaft.
- These are potentiometers that operate in a linear direction as opposed to a rotary direction.
1.1(Of a thing) acting by means of rotation, especially (of a machine) operating through the rotation of some part: a rotary mower...
- If it had a USB port, there would be a lot of money to be made by selling a plug-in rotary dial unit to operate the thing properly.
- Ellison's most recent expansion provided the company with some additional equipment including a computer controlled wire-cut machine and a rotary molder.
- Dozens of cultivation tools are at the organic producer's disposal, he added, from rotary hoes to new machines that simply vibrate soil to uproot newly sprouted weeds.
Synonyms
rotating, rotatory, rotational, revolving, turning, spinning, gyrating, gyratory, whirling
noun (plural rotaries)
1A rotary machine, engine, or device: there is an output level rotary for overall volume setting...
- By learning from the faults of previous large out-front turf rotaries and increasing engine horsepower, this unit has performed very well for many courses.
- My experiences with Mazda rotaries has left me an ardent enthusiast of the engine for life.
- An agricultural chemical dealer in the Hingurakgoda area had about 600 small tractors and tractor rotaries, all of which had been pawned.
2North American A traffic roundabout.On rotaries, the only road signs you see are the ones you've just missed....
- As usual, the Fresh Pond rotaries were at a standstill.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from medieval Latin rotarius, from rota 'wheel'.
Rhymes
Rotary2
/ˈrəʊt(ə)ri/(in full Rotary International) trademark
A worldwide charitable society of business and professional people, formed in 1905.
Origin
So named because members hosted events in rotation.