Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1700-1800
Language: Latin
Origin: , past participle of oscillare 'to swing', from oscillum 'swing'

oscillate

 verb
     
Related topics: Electricity, Electrical
os‧cil‧late [intransitive]
1 formalT to keep changing between two extreme amounts or limits:
The stock market is oscillating wildly at the moment.
oscillate between
His income oscillated between £1500 and £2000 a month.
2 formal to keep changing between one feeling or attitude and another
oscillate between
Her attitude towards me oscillated between friendship and hostility.
3 to move backwards and forwards in a regular way:
The needle on the dial began to oscillate.
4 technicalTEEHPE if an electric current oscillates, it changes direction very regularly and very frequently
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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