ROTARY

circular, rotary, orbitual

(adjective) describing a circle; moving in a circle; “the circular motion of the wheel”

rotary

(adjective) relating to or characterized by rotation; “rotary dial”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

rotary (not comparable)

Capable of rotation.

Noun

rotary (plural rotaries)

(New England) A traffic circle.

(mostly, with initial capital) Any of the clubs making up the international Rotary International movement for community service.

Source: Wiktionary


Ro"ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. rota a wheel. See Roll, v., and cf. barouche, Rodomontade, Roué, Round, a., Rowel.]

Definition: Turning, as a wheel on its axis; pertaining to, or resembling, the motion of a wheel on its axis; rotatory; as, rotary motion. Rotary engine, steam engine in which the continuous rotation of the shaft is produced by the direct action of the steam upon rotating devices which serve as pistons, instead of being derived from a reciprocating motion, as in the ordinary engine; a steam turbine; -- called also rotatory engine.

– Rotary pump, a pump in which the fluid is impelled by rotating devices which take the place of reciprocating buckets or pistons.

– Rotary shears, shears, as for cloth, metal, etc., in which revolving sharp-edged or sharp-cornered wheels do the cutting.

– Rotary valve, a valve acting by continuous or partial rotation, as in the four-way cock.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 April 2024

SUBDUCTION

(noun) a geological process in which one edge of a crustal plate is forced sideways and downward into the mantle below another plate


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Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Canada is the only non-European country to make its top ten list of coffee consumers. The United States at a distant 25 on the list.

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