1.  rotation(n = noun.act) rotary motion - the act of rotating as if on an axis; "the rotation of the dancer kept time with the music"
is a kind of motility, motion, move, movement
has particulars: circumvolution, feather, feathering, gyration, whirling, pivot, pronation, spin, twirl, twist, twisting, whirl, spiral, supination, turn, twist, twist, wind, winding, turnout
Derived forms verb rotate₁, verb rotate₄

2.  rotation(n = noun.linkdef) - (mathematics) a transformation in which the coordinate axes are rotated by a fixed angle about the origin;
is a kind of transformation

3.  rotation(n = noun.event) gyration, revolution - a single complete turn (axial or orbital); "the plane made three rotations before it crashed"; "the revolution of the earth about the sun takes one year"
is a kind of turn, turning
has particulars: clockwise rotation, dextrorotation, counterclockwise rotation, levorotation, axial motion, axial rotation, roll, orbital motion, orbital rotation, spin

4.  rotation(n = noun.attribute) - a planned recurrent sequence (of crops or personnel etc.); "crop rotation makes a balanced demand on the fertility of the soil"; "the manager had only four starting pitchers in his rotation"
is a kind of chronological sequence, chronological succession, sequence, succession, successiveness
Derived forms verb rotate₆, verb rotate₃, verb rotate₂

1.  The act of turning, as a wheel or a solid body on its axis, as distinguished from the progressive motion of a revolving round another body or a distant point; thus, the daily turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual motion round the sun is a revolution. [1913 Webster]

2.  Any return or succesion in a series. [1913 Webster]

   Pertaining to, or resulting from, rotation; of the nature of, or characterized by, rotation; as, rotational velocity. [1913 Webster]

rotation, n.
1 the act or an instance of rotating or being rotated.
2 a recurrence; a recurrent series or period; a regular succession of various members of a group in office etc.
3 a system of growing different crops in regular order to avoid exhausting the soil.

Derivative:
rotational adj. rotationally adv.

Etymology:
L rotatio

N  regularity of recurrence, periodicity, intermittence, beat, oscillation, pulse, pulsation, rhythm, alternation, alternateness, alternativeness, alternity, bout, round, revolution, rotation, turn, say, anniversary, jubilee, centenary, catamenia, courses, menses, menstrual flux, rota, cycle, period, stated time, routine, days of the week, Sunday, Monday, months of the year, January, feast, fast, Christmas, Easter, New Year's day, Allhallows, Allhallowmas, All Saints' Day, All Souls', All Souls' Day, Ash Wednesday, bicentennial, birthday, bissextile, Candlemas, Dewali, groundhog day, Halloween, Hallowmas, Lady day, leap year, Midsummer day, Muharram, woodchuck day, St. Swithin's day, natal day, yearbook, yuletide, punctuality, regularity, steadiness, periodic, periodical, serial, recurrent, cyclical, rhythmical, recurring, intermittent, remittent, alternate, every other, hourly, diurnal, daily, quotidian, tertian, weekly, hebdomadal, hebdomadary, biweekly, fortnightly, bimonthly, catamenial, monthly, menstrual, yearly, annual, biennial, triennial, centennial, secular, paschal, lenten, regular, steady, punctual, regular as clockwork, periodically, at regular intervals, at stated times, at fixed established, at established periods, punctually, de die in diem, from day to day, day by day, by turns, in turn, in rotation, alternately, every other day, off and on, ride and tie, round and round.

N  rotation, revolution, spinning, gyration, turning about an axis, turning aound an axis, circulation, roll, circumrotation, circumvolution, circumgyration, volutation, circination, turbination, pirouette, convolution, verticity, whir, whirl, eddy, vortex, whirlpool, gurge, countercurrent, Maelstrom, Charybdis, Ixion, cyclone, tornado, whirlwind, dust devil, spin-out, axis, axis of rotation, swivel, pivot, pivot point, axle, spindle, pin, hinge, pole, arbor, bobbin, mandrel, axle shaft, gymbal, hub, hub of rotation, helix, helical motion, angular momentum, angular velocity, revolutions per minute, RPM, centrifugal force, surge, vertigo, dizzy round, coriolus force, carousel, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, top, dreidel, teetotum, gyroscope, turntable, lazy suzan, screw, whirligig, rollingstone, water wheel, windmill, wheel, pulley wheel, roulette wheel, potter's wheel, pinwheel, gear, roller, flywheel, jack, caster, centrifuge, ultracentrifuge, bench centrifuge, refrigerated centrifuge, gas centrifuge, microfuge, drill, augur, oil rig, wagon wheel, wheel, tire, tyre, trochilics, whirling dervish, rotating, rotary, rotary, circumrotatory, trochilic, vertiginous, gyratory, vortical, vorticose, head over heels, round and round, like a horse in a mill.

axial rotation, axis of rotation, clockwise rotation, counterclockwise rotation, orbital rotation