wobble
verbEtymology From earlier wabble (“wobble”), probably from Low German wabbeln (“to wobble”). Compare Dutch wiebelen and wobbelen (“to wobble”), German wabbeln (“to wobble”), Old Norse vafla (“to hover about, totter”).
1
To move with an uneven or rocking motion, or unsteadily to and fro.
- the Earth wobbles slowly on its axis
- the jelly wobbled on the plate
2 more examples
- The apparition wobbled in front of Arthur's eyes, though the truth of the matter is probably that Arthur's eyes were wobbling in front of the apparition. His mouth wobbled as well.1982 August, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; 3), London: Pan Books, →ISBN, page 27:
- Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:
2
To tremble or quaver.
- The soprano's voice wobbled alarmingly.
3
To vacillate in one's opinions.
- I'm wobbling between the Liberals and the Greens.
4
To cause to wobble.
- The boy wobbled the girl's bike.
- He said: “This front wheel wobbles.” I said: “It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it.” It didn’t wobble, as a matter of fact—nothing worth calling a wobble.1900, Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel:
- Derived terms
- give your head a wobble, wobbler, wobblily, wobbliness, wobblingly, wobblish, wobbly