ro
ta
ry
1
referring to something that revolves around an axis or a central point, such as a wheel
- The rotary dial on the old telephone was used to dial numbers.
- She used a rotary tool to carve intricate designs into the wood.
- The rotary motion of the Earth around the sun causes the change of seasons.
- The rotary sprinkler evenly distributes water over the lawn in a circular pattern.
- The rotary knob on the stereo controls the volume of the music.
2
pertaining to a circular shape, form, or direction of movement rather than straight lines
- Traffic in a rotary intersection circulates within a circular one-way flow rather than straight lanes.
- Early phones used a rotary dial that was turned in a circular motion to input telephone numbers digit by digit.
- The rotary component of the engine converted the linear motion of pistons into rotational torque via a circular crankshaft.