adj
rotary
ROH-tuh-ree
adj
1
Turning or able to turn around a central axis.
"The washing machine has a rotary drum."
noun
1
A road junction where traffic circulates around a central island; a traffic circle or roundabout (chiefly North American).
"Take the second exit off the rotary onto Main Street."
How to Use Rotary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRotating, or (in North American English) a traffic circle.
UK vs US
North Americans say "rotary," the British usually say "roundabout" for the same road feature.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
rotaries plural
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The washing machine has a _____ drum.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin rotarius, ultimately from Latin rota, "wheel."