rotation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of rotating as if on an axis
    rotary motion.
    • the rotation of the dancer kept time with the music
  2. noun (mathematics) a transformation in which the coordinate axes are rotated by a fixed angle about the origin
  3. noun a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
    gyration; revolution.
    • the plane made three rotations before it crashed
    • the revolution of the earth about the sun takes one year
  4. noun a planned recurrent sequence (of crops or personnel etc.)
    • crop rotation makes a balanced demand on the fertility of the soil
    • the manager had only four starting pitchers in his rotation

WordNet

Ro*ta"tion noun
Etymology
L. rotatio: cf. F. rotation.
Definitions
  1. The act of turning, as a wheel or a solid body on its axis, as distinguished from the progressive motion of a revolving round another body or a distant point; thus, the daily turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual motion round the sun is a revolution.
  2. Any return or succesion in a series.
Ro*ta"tion adjective
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to, or resulting from, rotation; of the nature of, or characterized by, rotation; as, rotational velocity.

Webster 1913