rotary
gb/ɹˈoʊtɚi/ us/ɹˈoʊtɚi/
B2
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Turning around a central axis
Turning in a circle around a center point, or made to do this.
Usage pattern:
rotary [machine / part / motion]
Common mistake:
Learners often use only 'rotating' and do not realize that 'rotary' is the more natural choice before technical nouns (e.g. 'rotary engine', not usually 'rotating engine'). They may also confuse 'rotary' (adjective) with 'rotation' (noun).
Synonyms
rotating (Very close in meaning; more general and used both before and after nouns, while 'rotary' is mostly used before nouns in technical or specific descriptions.)
|
revolving (Emphasizes continuous turning around something; often used for doors, stages, or mechanisms, while 'rotary' sounds more technical and mechanical.)
Antonyms
stationary (Describes something that does not move or turn, the opposite of a part or motion that is rotary.)
Collocations
rotary motion
|rotary phone
|rotary engine
|rotary tool
|rotary dial
|rotary wing aircraft
Themes
technology
|engineering
|physics
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The pump uses a simple rotary mechanism to move the water.
- Early computers often stored data on rotary magnetic drums.
- He collects old rotary phones from the 1950s.
- The dentist picked up a small rotary tool to polish the filling.
- Helicopters are sometimes called rotary-wing aircraft because their lift comes from spinning blades.
Learner examples
- A helicopter has a rotary blade on top.
- This old house still has a rotary phone in the hallway.
- The machine works with fast rotary motion.
- The small rotary tool can cut, sand, and polish metal.
Noun
C1
entity
2
Circular road junction for traffic
A round road where cars go in a circle around the middle, with roads going in and out; similar to a roundabout.
Usage pattern:
to drive around / enter / leave the rotary
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this noun is regional and may expect everyone in English to understand it; in many places, 'roundabout' is the standard term. Some also confuse the noun 'a rotary' (a road junction) with the adjective 'rotary' (turning around an axis).
Synonyms
roundabout (The more common general-English term internationally; 'rotary' is mainly regional in parts of the US.)
|
traffic circle (A US term for the same kind of circular junction; similar meaning, but 'rotary' is especially tied to New England usage.)
Antonyms
intersection (A road crossing where streets meet in straight lines rather than forming a circular junction.)
Collocations
enter the rotary
|at the rotary
|drive around the rotary
|take the exit off the rotary
Themes
transport
|city_life
|travel
|transportation
|daily_life
Examples
- At the next rotary, take the second exit toward the highway.
- Traffic backs up every morning at the big rotary near the mall.
- Locals told us to stay in the right lane when entering the rotary.
- The town replaced an old four-way stop with a rotary to improve traffic flow.
Learner examples
- Turn right at the rotary and go straight.
- There is a large rotary at the end of this road.
- We went around the rotary and took the second exit.
- Cars must slow down before they enter the rotary.
Noun
C1
entity
3
Rotary Club or its member
A local group (usually written 'Rotary') that is part of Rotary International, where business and professional people meet to do charity and community work.
Usage pattern:
a Rotary [club / meeting / member]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write this as a common noun ('a rotary') even when referring to the organization; in practice it is almost always capitalized ('Rotary') and often appears as 'Rotary Club'. It is unrelated in meaning to 'rotary phone' or 'rotary motion'.
Synonyms
service club (A more general term for volunteer organizations that do charity and community projects; 'Rotary' is one specific international organization of this kind.)
Collocations
Rotary Club
|local Rotary
|Rotary meeting
|Rotary fundraiser
Themes
society
|charity
|relationships
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The local Rotary raised thousands of dollars for the new playground.
- She joined Rotary to meet people and support community projects.
- Rotary members organized a free health camp in the village.
- The mayor spoke at the Rotary breakfast meeting on Friday.
Learner examples
- My uncle is a member of Rotary in his town.
- Rotary gives money to help local schools.
- She goes to a Rotary meeting every week.
- Rotary often does charity work in many countries.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rotary
IPA
GB/ɹˈoʊtɚi/
US/ɹˈoʊtɚi/
Syllables & stress
rotary (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rotary)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rotary
Noun
- Base: rotary
- Plural: rotaries
Word family
Forms
rotaries
noun
Related words
rotational
adjective
rotor
noun
Negative and opposite forms
stationary
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
rotator
noun
rotationally
adverb
Expressions
Rotary Club
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi klˈʌb/
fixed phrase
Local club of Rotary International
A local group of people who are part of Rotary International and meet regularly to do charity and community projects.
Examples
- She was invited to speak about her project at the Rotary Club.
- The Rotary Club in our town sponsors several student scholarships each year.
rotary dial
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi dˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
Circular number dial on old phones
The round part on an old phone with numbers that you turn with your finger to call someone.
Examples
- Children today often do not recognize a rotary dial when they see one.
- You had to put your finger in the hole and pull the rotary dial around to dial each number.
rotary engine
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi ˈɛnd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
Engine with mainly rotating parts
An engine where the main parts move in circles instead of moving up and down like in a normal car engine.
Examples
- Mazda became famous for using a rotary engine in some of its sports cars.
- The rotary engine design allows for a high power-to-weight ratio but can be harder to maintain.
rotary phone
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Old telephone with a circular dial
An old-style telephone with a round dial that you turn to choose each number.
Examples
- My grandparents still have a black rotary phone in their kitchen.
- The museum shows how people once used a rotary phone to make calls.
rotary tool
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi tˈul/
fixed phrase
Handheld power tool with rotating tip
A small electric hand tool with a fast turning end that can cut, grind, or polish different materials.
Examples
- He used a rotary tool to carve the fine details into the wooden box.
- A basic rotary tool kit usually includes many small bits for cutting, sanding, and drilling.
rotary wing aircraft
1/ɹˈoʊtɚi wˈɪŋ ˈɛɹkɹˌæft/
fixed phrase
technical
Aircraft with lift from rotating blades
An aircraft, like a helicopter, that goes up because its wings or blades spin quickly around a center.
Examples
- Helicopters and some drones are classified as rotary wing aircraft.
- Unlike fixed wing airplanes, rotary wing aircraft can hover in one place.