rotor

noun

ro·​tor ˈrō-tər How to pronounce rotor (audio)
1
a
: a part that revolves in a stationary part
a brake rotor
b
: the rotating member of an electrical machine
2
: an assembly of rotating blades that supplies lift or stability for a rotorcraft

Examples of rotor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Braking comes in the form of DOT hydraulic brakes with six-piston calipers and large 220-mm rotors. New Atlas, 15 May 2026 According to an update from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), spotted by MotorTrend, the issue pertains to the vehicle's brake rotors—the circular metal discs that spin with your car's wheels—not the wheels themselves. Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 10 May 2026 In its report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that rough roads and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor causing cracks to form and with continued driving the wheel stud could eventually separate from the wheel hub. ABC News, 8 May 2026 Then the engineers activated a fan inside the chamber that pelted the rotors with headwinds. ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rotor

Word History

Etymology

contraction of rotator

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rotor was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rotor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotor. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

rotor

noun
ro·​tor ˈrōt-ər How to pronounce rotor (audio)
1
: a part that rotates in a stationary part (as in an electrical machine)
2
: a complete system of rotating blades that support a helicopter in flight

More from Merriam-Webster on rotor

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster