Oscillate Definition
ŏsə-lāt
oscillated, oscillates, oscillating
verb
oscillated, oscillates, oscillating
To swing or move regularly back and forth.
Webster's New World
To cause to oscillate.
Webster's New World
To be indecisive in purpose or opinion; vacillate.
Webster's New World
To vary between alternate extremes, usually within a definable period of time.
American Heritage
To vary regularly between maximum and minimum values, as an electric current.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Origin of Oscillate
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From Latin oscillatus perfect passive participle of Latin oscillō (“swing"), from oscillum (“a swing"), usually identified with oscillum (“a little face or mask hung to a tree and swaying with the wind"), diminutive of os (“mouth, face").
From Wiktionary
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Latin ōscillāre ōscillāt- from ōscillum something that swings back and forth, swing probably from ōscillum small mask of Bacchus diminutive of ōs mouth ōs- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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