‖n. [ L. rota wheel. The name is said to allude to the design of the floor of the room in which the court used to sit, which was that of a wheel. See Rotary. ] 1. An ecclesiastical court of Rome, called also Rota Romana, that takes cognizance of suits by appeal. It consists of twelve members. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Hist.) A short-lived political club established in 1659 by J.Harrington to inculcate the democratic doctrine of election of the principal officers of the state by ballot, and the annual retirement of a portion of Parliament. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) A species of zither, played like a guitar, used in the Middle Ages in church music; -- written also rotta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Rhotacism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to wheels or to rotary motion; rotary. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. rota wheel + -lite. ] (Paleon.) Any fossil foraminifer of the genus Rotalia, abundant in the chalk formation. See Illust. under Rhizopod. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. rota a wheel. See Roll, v., and cf. barouche, Rodomontade, Roué, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. rota a wheel + -scope. ] Same as Gyroscope, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rotated p. pr. & vb. n. Rotating. ] 1. To turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To cause to turn round or revolve, as a wheel around an axle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to succeed in turn; esp., to cause to succeed some one, or to be succeeded by some one, in office. [ Colloq. ] “Both, after a brief service, were rotated out of office.” Harper's Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. rotatus, p. p. of rotare to turn round like a wheel, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Roue. ] Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as, a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one. [ 1913 Webster ]