rotor

noun

ro·​tor ˈrō-tər 

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

The brakes are hydraulic disks at the front and vented rotors at the rear. —New Atlas, 6 Jan. 2025

Engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed new carbon fiber rotor blades that are 4 inches longer than those used on Ingenuity. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 5 Jan. 2025

Ingenuity's red planet companion, the Perseverance rover, snapped one final shot of Ingenuity, after damage to its rotor blades permanently grounded the vehicle. —Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

The gearbox is the aircraft’s transmission and contains five pinion gears that spin to send energy from the engine to the Osprey’s masts and rotor blades. —Brad Dress, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

contraction of rotator

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing rotor

• tilt-rotor

Kids Definition

rotor

noun

ro·​tor ˈrōt-ər 

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