rotary
rotary — adjective
1. describes a machine or device whose parts turn around a fixed centre point, rath
describes a machine or device whose parts turn around a fixed centre point, rather than moving back and forth
Kenji swapped his push mower for a rotary model whose blade spins on a shaft.
rotary + noun (model, engine, blade); illustrates spinning vs push motion
Soraya pressed the rotary cutter's circular blade against the quilt fabric and rolled it forward.
demonstrates 'rotary cutter' with circular-blade rolling action
Mei turned the rotary dial on the oven clockwise to set the baking temperature.
A rotary drum inside the dryer tumbles the clothes while hot air flows through.
Stefan prefers a rotary engine because it delivers power more smoothly than a piston one.
- fixed
a stationary part that does not move at all
- reciprocating
moving back and forth in a straight line rather than turning
文法句型
rotary + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — 'rotary' typically sits directly before the noun it modifies (a rotary blade, a rotary engine). It does not appear after linking verbs.
常見錯誤
2. describes a free-standing outdoor drying stand with a central pole and arms that
describes a free-standing outdoor drying stand with a central pole and arms that turn around, from which washing lines are stretched
The Watanabes bought a rotary washing line because their garden has very little shade.
collocation: rotary washing line
Ishaan hung bedsheets on the rotary clothesline and pushed it around to catch the sun.
A rotary dryer takes up much less floor space than a fixed wooden frame.
Pim pulled the rotary line out fully before pegging the towels on.
- umbrella line
less common; describes the same type of clothes-drying stand
- revolving clothesline
describes the same product but less idiomatic in British English
文法句型
rotary + washing line / clothesline
用法筆記
In British English, 'rotary washing line' (or 'rotary clothesline') is a common household term. In American English, a 'clothesline' on a spinning stand is often called a 'rotary clothesline' or just a 'clothesline'. The word 'rotary' here is always attributive — it cannot stand alone as a noun meaning the line itself.
常見錯誤
rotary — noun
1. a road junction where drivers travel in one direction around a raised central ar
a road junction where drivers travel in one direction around a raised central area to reach any of three or more connecting routes
Lara took the third exit at the rotary near the shopping centre.
take the [ordinal] exit at the rotary
Traffic slowed to a crawl as drivers approached the rotary on the edge of town.
Justin's driving instructor told him to signal right before entering the rotary.
Drivers approaching the village rotary slowed down and checked for cars already circling inside it.
Roya finds it confusing to navigate a rotary with five different exits spread around it.
- roundabout
the more common term in British and most international English; used in official road signs
- traffic circle
the predominant American term, though technically different from modern roundabouts in design
文法句型
at the rotary
enter the rotary
take the [number] exit at the rotary
用法筆記
This sense is common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English. In American English, 'rotary' is used mainly in New England; the more widespread term nationwide is 'traffic circle' or 'roundabout'.