Oscillate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of OSCILLATE

[no object]

1

:

to move in one direction and then back again many times

• The fan was oscillating. [=was turning to the right, then to the left, then to the right, etc.]
• Stock prices have continued to oscillate. [=to go up and down]
• an oscillating fan

2

formal

:

to keep changing from one belief, feeling, condition, etc., to an opposite one

— usually + between

• The mood of voters has oscillated between optimism and pessimism.
• The weather oscillated between brutal cold and searing heat.

3

technical

:

to change in strength or direction regularly

• an oscillating electric current
• oscillating radio waves
• stars that oscillate in brightness [=that get brighter, then fainter, then brighter, etc.]