rotary

Etymology

Attested mid 18th century, from Medieval Latin rotarius, from Latin rota (“wheel”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɹəʊtəɹi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹoʊtəɹi/

Adjective

rotary (not comparable)

1. Capable of rotation.

   A rotary engine revolves the heads rather than having pistons go back and forth.

   • 1997, A. J. Taylor, D. S. Mothram, editors, Flavour Science: Recent Developments‎, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 63:

     Volatiles of kecap manis and its raw materials were extracted using Likens-Nickerson apparatus with diethyl ether as the extraction solvent. The extracts were then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrated using a rotary evaporator followed by flushing using nitrogen until the volume was about 0.5 ml.

Noun

rotary (plural rotaries)

1. (New England, Atlantic Canada) A roundabout, traffic circle.
2. (chiefly with initial capital) Any of the clubs making up the international Rotary International movement for community service.