oscillate
English
Etymology
From Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of Latin ōscillō (“swing”), from ōscillum (“a swing”), usually identified with ōscillum (“a little face or mask hung on a tree that sways with the wind”), diminutive of ōs (“mouth, face”).
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈɑsɪleɪt/
Audio (US) (file)
Verb
oscillate (third-person singular simple present oscillates, present participle oscillating, simple past and past participle oscillated)
- (intransitive) To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
- A pendulum oscillates slower as it gets longer.
- (intransitive) To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.
- The mood for change oscillated from day to day.
- (intransitive) To vary above and below a mean value.
Synonyms
- vacillate
Derived terms
- oscillator
Related terms
- oscillation
Translations
to swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm
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See also
- undulate
Further reading
- oscillate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- oscillate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
- oscillate at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
- Tesla coil, lactisole, localites, teocallis
Italian
Verb
oscillate
- inflection of oscillare:
- second-person plural present indicative
- second-person plural imperative
Participle
oscillate f pl
- feminine plural of oscillato
Anagrams
- alcoliste, costellai, escatolli, scolliate, sollecita, solletica