a. [ L. rotatus, p. p. of rotare to turn round like a wheel, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Roue. ] Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as, a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To cause to turn round or revolve, as a wheel around an axle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to succeed in turn; esp., to cause to succeed some one, or to be succeeded by some one, in office. [ Colloq. ] “Both, after a brief service, were rotated out of office.” Harper's Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rotated p. pr. & vb. n. Rotating. ] 1. To turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Turned round, as a wheel; also, wheel-shaped; rotate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. rotatio: cf. F. rotation. ] 1. The act of turning, as a wheel or a solid body on its axis, as distinguished from the progressive motion of a revolving round another body or a distant point; thus, the daily turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual motion round the sun is a revolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any return or succesion in a series. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moment of rotation. See Moment of inertia, under Moment. --
Rotation in office, the practice of changing public officers at frequent intervals by discharges and substitutions. --
Rotation of crops, the practices of cultivating an orderly succession of different crops on the same land. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or resulting from, rotation; of the nature of, or characterized by, rotation; as, rotational velocity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. rotatif. ] turning, as a wheel; rotary; rotational. [ 1913 Webster ]

This high rotative velocity of the sun must cause an equatorial rise of the solar atmosphere. Siemens. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rotative engine, a steam engine in which the reciprocating motion of the piston is transformed into a continuous rotary motion, as by means of a connecting rod, a working beam and crank, or an oscillating cylinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] 1. (Anat.) that which gives a rotary or rolling motion, as a muscle which partially rotates or turns some part on its axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metal.) A revolving reverberatory furnace. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) Same as Rotifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. rotatoire. See Rotate, Rotary. ] 1. Turning as on an axis; rotary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Going in a circle; following in rotation or succession; as, rotatory assembles. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Opt.) Producing rotation of the plane of polarization; as, the rotatory power of bodies on light. See the Note under polarization. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]