Undulation

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Undulation \Un`du*la"tion\, n. [Cf. F. ondulation.]
     1. The act of undulating; a waving motion or vibration; as,
        the undulations of a fluid, of water, or of air; the
        undulations of sound.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. A wavy appearance or outline; waviness. --Evelyn.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Mus.)
        (a) The tremulous tone produced by a peculiar pressure of
            the finger on a string, as of a violin.
        (b) The pulsation caused by the vibrating together of two
            tones not quite in unison; -- called also {beat}.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Physics) A motion to and fro, up and down, or from side
        to side, in any fluid or elastic medium, propagated
        continuously among its particles, but with no translation
        of the particles themselves in the direction of the
        propagation of the wave; a wave motion; a vibration.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  undulation
       n 1: an undulating curve [syn: {wave}]
       2: wave-like motion; a gentle rising and falling in the manner
          of waves
       3: (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth [syn: {wave}]