noun
Common
rotation
roh-TAY-shuhn
Rotation (noun) means the action or process of turning around a centre or axis. Example: “The rotation of the Earth gives us day and night.”
noun
1
The action or process of turning around a centre or axis.
"The rotation of the Earth gives us day and night."
"Watch the slow rotation of the fan blades above the table."
"The wheel's rotation slowed as the brake was applied."
2
A regular pattern of taking turns, or a scheduled change-over.
"We have a weekly rotation for washing up, so everyone gets a turn."
"She joined the surgical rotation as part of her residency."
"The songs are played in heavy rotation on the radio station."
3
The practice of growing different crops on the same land across seasons.
"The farmer follows a four-year rotation of wheat, barley, beans and grass."
"Rotation lets each field rest, so the soil stays healthy for the next planting."
"Crop rotation helps prevent the soil from being drained of nutrients."
How to use rotation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of turning around an axis, or a scheduled cycle of turns.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
crop rotation
in rotation
starting rotation
rotation of staff
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rotation.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- rotations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the Earth gives us day and night.
Etymology
From Latin rotatio, built on rotare, "to revolve."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rotation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for rotation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “rotation” mean?
The word “rotation” means the action or process of turning around a centre or axis. In plain terms, the act of turning around an axis, or a scheduled cycle of turns.
How do you pronounce “rotation”?
“Rotation” is pronounced roh-TAY-shuhn (/ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “rotation” in a sentence?
Here is “rotation” used in a sentence: “The wheel's rotation slowed as the brake was applied.”
What is another word for “rotation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rotation” include turning, revolution, rota, roster, duty roster and schedule.
What part of speech is “rotation”?
“Rotation” is a noun.
Where does the word “rotation” come from?
The word “rotation” comes from Latin. From Latin rotatio, built on rotare, "to revolve.".
Is “rotation” a common word?
“Rotation” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rotation” have?
“Rotation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the action or process of turning around a centre or axis.
What is the difference between rotation and revolution?
In science, rotation is the turning of a body around its own centre or axis, while revolution is the movement of one body around another. The Earth's rotation on its axis produces day and night, and its revolution around the Sun takes a year. In everyday English, however, revolution can also simply mean one complete turn, which is why the words are sometimes used interchangeably.
What is crop rotation?
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops on the same land across seasons rather than repeating the same one. Farmers use it to keep soil productive and to break the cycles of pests and diseases that build up when a single crop is grown continuously.
What is the difference between rotation and rota?
A rota, chiefly British, is the list or roster that sets out whose turn it is to do a task. Rotation is the process itself — the regular pattern of taking turns or changing over — so staff listed on a rota work in rotation.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include rotation:
