rotate

To turn something around a central point.

• Rotate the handle to open the door.
• She rotated the picture until it was upright.
• Can you rotate the screen a little?

How to use it: rotate something by an angle (Rotate the image by ninety degrees.)

Similar words: turn, spin

Common phrases: rotate the image, rotate something clockwise, rotate the handle

To move in a circle around a central point or line.

• The wheel rotates slowly.
• The fan blades rotated above our heads.
• How long does this planet take to rotate once?

How to use it: rotate on/about an axis (The Earth rotates on its axis.)

Similar words: turn, spin, revolve

Common phrases: rotate slowly, rotate on something, rotate clockwise

To change jobs, positions, or tasks in a regular order so that people or things take turns.

• We rotate jobs every week.
• The nurses rotated between day and night shifts.
• Farmers rotate crops to keep the soil healthy.

How to use it: rotate between/among things (The trainees rotate between three departments.); rotate something among people (We rotate cleaning duties among all team members.)

Similar words: alternate, take turns

Common phrases: rotate duties, rotate crops, rotate between jobs

To raise an aircraft's front end during takeoff, just before it leaves the ground.

• The aircraft began to rotate.
• The pilot rotated too early during takeoff.
• At the correct speed, rotate gently and lift off.

Common phrases: rotate for takeoff, rotate at speed

Shaped like a wheel, with parts spreading outward from the center.

• The flower has a rotate corolla.
• Its rotate corolla spreads flat around the center.
• The botanist compared two plants with rotate flowers.

Similar words: wheel-shaped

Common phrases: rotate corolla, rotate flower, rotate shape