{ } a. [ Pref. circum- + rotary, rotatory. ] turning, rolling, or whirling round. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Dextro- + rotatory. ] (Chem. & Opt.) Turning, or causing to turn, toward the right hand; esp., turning the plane of polarization of luminous rays toward the right hand; as, dextrorotatory crystals, sugars, etc. Cf. Levorotatory.

a. Same as Levorotatory. Cf. Dextrorotatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Levo- + rotatory. ] (Chem. & Physics) Turning or rotating the plane of polarization of light towards the left; -- applied to crystals and compounds exhibiting optical activity, such as levulose, left-handed quartz crystals, etc. Opposite of dextrorotatory. [ Written also lævorotatory. ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ L. ] 1. (Anat.) that which gives a rotary or rolling motion, as a muscle which partially rotates or turns some part on its axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metal.) A revolving reverberatory furnace. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) Same as Rotifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. rotatoire. See Rotate, Rotary. ] 1. Turning as on an axis; rotary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Going in a circle; following in rotation or succession; as, rotatory assembles. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Opt.) Producing rotation of the plane of polarization; as, the rotatory power of bodies on light. See the Note under polarization. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A rotifer. [ R. ] Kirby. [ 1913 Webster ]