2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rotary  \Ro"ta*ry\,  a.  [L.  rota  a  wheel.  See  {Roll},  v.,  and  cf 
  {barouche},  {Rodomontade},  {Rou['e]},  {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. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  rotary 
  adj  :  relating  to  or  characterized  by  rotation;  "rotary  dial" 
  n  1:  a  road  junction  at  which  traffic  streams  circularly  around  a 
  central  island;  "the  accident  blocked  all  traffic  at  the 
  rotary"  [syn:  {traffic  circle},  {circle},  {roundabout}] 
  2:  a  synchronous  machine  that  converts  alternating  to  direct 
  current  or  vice  versa  [syn:  {synchronous  converter},  {rotary 
  converter}] 

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