undulate
adj/ˈʌndjəlɪt/ · /ˈʌndjʊlɪt/
Etymology Borrowed from Late Latin undulātus (“undulated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
1
Wavy in appearance or form.
2
Changing the pitch and volume of one's voice.
undulate
verb/ˈʌndjəleɪt/ · /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/
Etymology First attested in 1664; borrowed from New Latin undulātus, the perfect passive participle of undulō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from an unattested *undula (“small wave”), diminutive of Latin unda (“wave”).
1
To cause to move in a wavelike motion.
- Breath vocalized, i.e., vibrated and undulated.1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […], →OCLC:
2
To cause to resemble a wave.
3
To move in wavelike motions.
- His tongue undulated.
- Come lovely and soothing death, / Undulate round the world, serenely arriving, arriving, / In the day, in the night, to all, to each, / Sooner or later delicate death.1865, Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d and other poems:
4
To appear wavelike.
- Derived terms
- circumundulate, undulately, undulation, undulative, undulator, undulatory
- Related terms
- oscillate