WordGarden.iorotor
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈəʊtə/
US
- /ˈroʊtər/
Meanings
Noun
a rotating part of a machine, motor, turbine, or helicopter
Beyond the definition
A rotor is the part of a machine that turns around a center point. Think of the spinning blades on a helicopter, the turning part inside an electric motor, or the round part in some pumps and tools. It is the part that actually moves while other parts stay still.
You will often find it matched with a stator, which is the part that does not move. The idea is simple: one part stays still, and the other turns. So when you see a machine creating motion by spinning, there is often a rotor doing the work.
The word "rotor" refers to a rotating component of a mechanical or electrical system. It is the part that spins around an axis, converting energy into motion—or vice versa. While it might sound technical, rotors are everywhere.
Think about a ceiling fan: the blades and the central turning part together form the rotor assembly. In an electric motor, the rotor turns inside the motor and works with magnetic forces to create motion. In a helicopter, the main rotor is the spinning system that helps produce lift and movement through the air.
The word is also used in many smaller machines and tools. A centrifuge has a rotor that spins samples at high speed. Some pumps, brakes, and precision tools also contain rotors. In each case, the basic idea stays the same: it is the part that turns while the rest of the system supports or controls that movement.
In more advanced science, the word can even be used for tiny rotating parts in biological systems, but most of the time you will see it in engineering and machines. Whether it is helping a fan spin, a motor run, or a helicopter rise, a rotor is the essential turning part that makes motion possible. At heart, it is a simple idea: the part that spins.
Examples
- 1
Helicopter part
The helicopter's rotor was still turning after it touched down.
- 2
Car brakes
The mechanic said the front brake rotors were worn and needed to be replaced.
- 3
Motor problem
Engineers shut the motor down when the rotor started to vibrate badly.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- rotornoun
Forms
- rotorspluralnoun