undulate

adjective un·du·late \ ˈən-jə-lət , ˈən-dyə- , ˈən-də- , -ˌlāt \

variants: or undulated play \ˈən-jə-ˌlā-təd, ˈən-dyə-, ˈən-də-\

Updated on: 3 Nov 2017

Definition of undulate

: having a wavy surface, edge, or markings

the undulate margin of a leaf

undulate was our Word of the Day on 09/13/2012. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of undulate from the Web

In the final stretch, after Mr. Oxley had gone mostly silent, Mr. Tanaka moved his right arm up and down, making it undulate to the end of his hand.

— ben ratliff, New York Times, "Review: Cecil Taylor’s Mysteries Don’t Resolve at the 88th Key," 15 Apr. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of undulate

Latin undulatus, from *undula, diminutive of unda wave — more at water

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1658

See Words from the same year

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

undulate

verb un·du·late \ ˈən-jə-ˌlāt , ˈən-dyə- , ˈən-də- \

Definition of undulate

undulated; undulating

intransitive verb

1 : to form or move in waves : fluctuate

2 : to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence

3 : to present a wavy appearance

transitive verb

: to cause to move in a wavy, sinuous, or flowing manner

See undulate defined for English-language learners

See undulate defined for kids

Recent Examples of undulate from the Web

The first new Loop elevated stop in 20 years, the $75 million Washington-Wabash Station stands out because the canopies covering its passenger platforms appear to undulate, like the skeleton of a skinny reptile.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "First new Loop 'L' station in 20 years creates curvy gateway to Millennium Park," 29 Aug. 2017
The surface undulates when a boat passes and the edges can be a slippery slope into the drink, as Russell's wife Paula discovered.

— david holahan, courant.com, "A Connecticut Pilgrimage To Machu Picchu," 15 Aug. 2017
The brick façade of a collaborative gallery in Shanghai undulates with the suppleness of dimpled skin.

— julie v. iovine, WSJ, "Architecture Looks Back to Move Forward," 11 Oct. 2017
Between 1880 and 2015, the filth on their feathers undulated with social changes and environmental policy.

— joanna klein, New York Times, "The Dirty Secrets Saved in Dead Birds’ Feathers," 10 Oct. 2017
If the split paths are separated vertically, one path will be infinitesimally farther from Earth, giving it slightly more gravitational energy than the other path and causing the quantum wave to undulate slightly faster along that path.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Coolest science ever headed to the space station," 7 Sep. 2017
These days, a metal barrier undulates down the hills into the surf, like an iron jetty.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, sacbee, "Where the border fence meets the sea, a strange beach scene contrasts U.S., Mexico," 4 Sep. 2017
These days, a metal barrier undulates down the hills into the surf, like an iron jetty.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, latimes.com, "Where the border fence meets the sea, a strange beach scene contrasting the U.S. and Mexico," 4 Sep. 2017
Covering 320 hectares, this vast stretch of greenery undulates from Hampstead to Highgate and is home to playing fields, lakes, an abundance of diverse flora, and a mosaic of habitats occupied by various types of wildlife.

— josh lee, Vogue, "The Most Beautiful Picnic Spots Around the World," 31 Aug. 2017

Make Waves With the History of undulate

Undulate and "inundate" are word cousins, sharing "unda," the Latin word for "wave," as their common ancestor. No surprise there. But would you have guessed that "abound," "surround," and "redound" are also "unda" offspring? The connection between "unda" and these words is easier to see when you learn that at some point in their early histories each of them essentially had the meaning of "to overflow"-a meaning that "inundate" still carries, along with its "overwhelm" sense.

Origin and Etymology of undulate

Late Latin undula small wave, from Latin *undula

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1664

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of undulate

swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite. swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

- the door suddenly swung open

sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

- trees swaying in the breeze

oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

- an oscillating fan

vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

- the vibrating strings of a piano

fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

- fluctuating interest rates

waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

- the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

- an undulating sea of grass

UNDULATE Defined for English Language Learners

undulate

verb

Definition of undulate for English Language Learners

: to move or be shaped like waves

UNDULATE Defined for Kids

undulate

verb un·du·late \ ˈən-jə-ˌlāt , -də- , -dyə- \

Definition of undulate for Students

undulated; undulating

: to move in or as if in a wavy or flowing way

The curtains were streamers, undulating from the breeze …
—Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted

Word Root of undulate

The Latin word unda, meaning “wave,” gives us the root und. Words from the Latin unda have something to do with waves. To undulate is to move up and down like a wave. To inundate is to cover with a flood of waves. To surround, or encircle on all sides, is to enclose as if by waves. To abound is to be plentiful, like waves in the ocean.