oscillate verb

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Click to hear the US pronunciation of this word

/ˈɒs.ɪ.leɪt/

/ˈɑː.səl.eɪt/ v [I]

Definition

•

to move repeatedly from one position to another

The needle on the dial oscillated between 'full' and 'empty'.

•

formal If you oscillate between feelings or opinions, you change repeatedly from one to the other

My emotions oscillate between desperation and hope.

•

specialized (of a wave or electric current) to change regularly in strength or direction

/ˌɒs.ɪˈleɪ.ʃən/

/ˌɑː.səlˈeɪ-/ n [C or U] formal or specialized

(Definition of oscillate verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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