When the ocean current gently moves with the breeze, this is an example of undulate.
- to cause to move in waves
- to give a wavy form, margin, or surface to
Origin of undulate; from Classical Latin undulatus, undulated ; from an unverified form undula, diminutive of unda, a wave: see water
- to move in or as in waves; move sinuously
- to have a wavy form, margin, or surface
verbun·du·lat·ed, un·du·lat·ing, un·du·lates
- To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion: “gleaming seaweed that curls and undulates with the tide” (Willa Cather).
- To have a wavelike appearance or form: dunes that undulate toward the sea.
- To increase and decrease in volume or pitch.
- To cause to move in a smooth wavelike motion: The dancer undulated her hips.
- To give a wavelike appearance or form to: The rock strata are undulated.
Origin of undulateFrom Late Latin undula, small wave, diminutive of Latin unda, wave; see wed-1 in Indo-European roots.
(third-person singular simple present undulates, present participle undulating, simple past and past participle undulated)
(comparative more undulate, superlative most undulate)
From Late Latin undulÄtus (“undulated"), from *undula (“small wave"), diminutive of Latin unda (“wave").