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 to a tree and swaying 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)

  1. (intransitive) To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
    A pendulum oscillates slower as it gets longer.
  2. (intransitive) To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.
    The mood for change oscillated from day to day.
  3. (intransitive) To vary above and below a mean value.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Further reading

  • oscillate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • oscillate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • oscillate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

Italian

Verb

oscillate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of oscillare
  2. second-person plural imperative of oscillare
  3. feminine plural of oscillato

Anagrams

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