# rotor

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹəʊ.tə/ · frequency rank #16,789

## Definitions
1. A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
2. A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
3. A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
4. A type of powerful horizontal-axis atmospheric vortex generated by the interaction of strong winds with mountainous terrain.
5. A quantity having magnitude, direction, and position.
6. The set of cells within an oscillator that switch between being alive and dead over the course of the oscillator's period.
7. An amusement park and carnival ride consisting of a rotating cylindrical chamber in which centrifugal force adheres riders to the wall as the floor drops away, creating a sensation of defying gravity.

## Etymology
From an irregular clipping of rotator, originally in mathematics, coined by English mathematician and philosopher William Kingdon Clifford based on vector, see quotations. Doublet of rota and ruote.

## Easily confused with
- **ROTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-rots)
- **rover** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-rover)
- **rumor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-rumor)
- **rower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-rower)
- **router** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-router)
- **rotors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotor-vs-rotors)
- **rot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rot-vs-rotor)
- **roo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roo-vs-rotor)
- **room** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/room-vs-rotor)
- **roof** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rotor)
- **root** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/root-vs-rotor)
- **roar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roar-vs-rotor)
- **Roth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roth-vs-rotor)
- **Romo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/romo-vs-rotor)
- **rook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rook-vs-rotor)
- **Rojo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rojo-vs-rotor)
- **ROTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotc-vs-rotor)
- **rote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rote-vs-rotor)
- **roos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roos-vs-rotor)
- **rota** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rota-vs-rotor)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ortor`, `rootr`, `rotorr`, `rotro`, `rottor`, `rrotor`, `rtoor`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rotor