rotary
6 dictionary results for: Rotary
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ro·ta·ry 
[roh-tuh-ree] Pronunciation Key adjective, noun, plural -ries.
[roh-tuh-ree] Pronunciation Key adjective, noun, plural -ries. –adjective
–noun
| 1. | turning or capable of turning around on an axis, as a wheel. |
| 2. | taking place around an axis, as motion. |
| 3. | having a part or parts that turn on an axis, as a machine. |
| 4. | a rotary device or machine. |
| 5. | Chiefly Northeastern U.S. traffic circle. |
| 6. | Also called rotary converter. Electricity. synchronous converter. |
| 7. | (initial capital letter) Rotary Club. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| ro·ta·ry
(rō'tə-rē) Pronunciation Key
adj. Of, relating to, causing, or characterized by rotation, especially axial rotation. n. pl. ro·ta·ries
[Medieval Latin rotārius, from Latin rota, wheel; see ret- in Indo-European roots.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| traffic circle
n. A circular one-way road at a junction of thoroughfares, facilitating an uninterrupted flow of traffic. Also called regionally rotary. |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rotary
rotary
1731, from M.L. rotarius "pertaining to wheels," from L. rota "wheel," from PIE base *roto- "to run, to turn, to roll" (cf. Skt. rathah "car, chariot;" Avestan ratho; Lith. ratas "wheel," ritu "I roll;" O.H.G. rad, Ger. Rad, Du. rad, O.Fris. reth, O.S. rath, O.Ir. roth, Welsh rhod "carriage wheel"). The international service club (founded by Paul P. Harris in Chicago in 1905) so called from the practice of clubs entertaining in rotation. Hence Rotarian (1911).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| rotary | |
adjective | |
| 1. | relating to or characterized by rotation; "rotary dial" |
| 2. | describing a circle; moving in a circle; "the circular motion of the wheel" [syn: circular] |
noun | |
| 1. | a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island; "the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary" [syn: traffic circle] |
| 2. | electrical converter consisting of a synchronous machine that converts alternating to direct current or vice versa [syn: synchronous converter] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Rotary
Ro"ta*ry\, a. [L. rota a wheel. See Roll, v., and cf. barouche, Rodomontade, Rou['e], Round, a., Rowel.] 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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