oscillation

UK/ˌɒ.sɪˈleɪ.ʃən/US/ˌɒ.sɪˈleɪ.ʃən/

nounC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #13,982 of 15,258mostly written

Other forms: oscillations

An oscillation is a regular swinging back and forth. A slow oscillation, damped oscillation, the oscillation of the pendulum.

In engineering an uncontrolled one destroys structures, since a bridge or an aircraft wing that oscillates will tear itself apart. The figurative use means changing position repeatedly between two views.

Definitions of oscillation

1nounoscillationA regular swinging back and forth.C1
“The steady oscillation of the pendulum kept perfect time in the old clock.”

oscillation is a movement.

Where it comes from

Latin oscillatio comes from oscillare, to swing.

Latin
oscillatio
French
oscillation
English, today
oscillation

From French oscillation, from Latin oscillatio, from Latin oscillo. by surface analysis, oscillate + -ion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

oscillation in the wild

Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum and alternating current.
Oscillation
The term vibration is precisely used to describe a mechanical oscillation.
Oscillation
The Southern Oscillation is the accompanying atmospheric oscillation, which is coupled with the sea temperature change.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation
The exact mechanisms that cause the oscillation are unclear and are being studied.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Low-frequency oscillation (LFO) is an electronic frequency that is usually below 20 Hz and creates a rhythmic pulse or sweep.
Low-frequency oscillation

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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