Oscillation: meaning, definitions and examples

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oscillation

 

[ ˌɒsɪˈleɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

physics

The act or state of swinging back and forth with a regular rhythm.

Synonyms

swaying, swinging, vibration

Examples of usage

  • The oscillation of a pendulum
  • The oscillation of a vibrating guitar string
Context #2 | Noun

electronics

A rapid variation in the magnitude or direction of a signal.

Synonyms

fluctuation, ripple, variation

Examples of usage

  • The oscillation of an electrical current
  • The oscillation of a radio wave
Context #3 | Noun

general

A change or movement between two points or states.

Synonyms

alternation, fluctuation, shifting

Examples of usage

  • The oscillation between joy and sadness
  • The oscillation between success and failure

Translations

Translations of the word "oscillation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oscilação

🇮🇳 दोलन

🇩🇪 Schwingung

🇮🇩 osilasi

🇺🇦 коливання

🇵🇱 oscylacja

🇯🇵 振動 (しんどう)

🇫🇷 oscillation

🇪🇸 oscilación

🇹🇷 salınım

🇰🇷 진동

🇸🇦 اهتزاز

🇨🇿 oscilace

🇸🇰 oscilácia

🇨🇳 振荡 (zhèndàng)

🇸🇮 nihanje

🇮🇸 sveifla

🇰🇿 тербеліс

🇬🇪 რხევა

🇦🇿 titrəmə

🇲🇽 oscilación

Word origin

The word 'oscillation' comes from the Latin word 'oscillatio' meaning 'a swinging'. It has been used in physics to describe the back and forth movement of a pendulum since the 17th century. In electronics, the term refers to rapid variations in signals, a concept developed in the early 20th century. The general usage of 'oscillation' to describe movement between two points or states has been common in English since the 19th century.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,202, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.