rotary

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
noun electrical converter consisting of a synchronous machine that converts alternating to direct current or vice versa
adjective relating to or characterized by rotation

Attested mid 18th century, from Medieval Latin rotarius, from Latin rota (“wheel”).

This machine was in no sense rotary. — Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930, Unknown
Presently he called on the visiting secretary of the Zenith Rotary Club, a rival organization. — Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis
He had enough to do, speaking at Rotary and Kiwanis luncheons, and the like; so he merely growled: "You run around with him, Jake, and if you need help lemme know." — Just a bit too fast, Hal Moore

traffic circle, circle, roundabout

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning