oscillate

os·cil·late

verb \ˈä-sə-ˌlāt\

os·cil·lat·edos·cil·lat·ing

Definition of OSCILLATE

intransitive verb

1

a : to swing backward and forward like a pendulum b : to move or travel back and forth between two points

2

: to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories

3

: to vary above and below a mean value

— os·cil·la·to·ry \ˈä-sə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

Origin of OSCILLATE

Latin oscillatus, past participle of oscillare to swing, from oscillum swing

First Known Use: 1726

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with OSCILLATE

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