oscillatory
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of oscillatory
1730–40; < New Latin oscillātōrius, equivalent to Latin oscillā ( re ) to swing ( see oscillate) + -tōrius -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The discovery of the oscillatory behavior with the Fischer Tropsch reaction was very surprising because the reaction is mechanistically extremely complicated.
From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023
The torso and lower legs each move relative to the seat in an oscillatory fashion, but the frequency of that oscillation changes to remain optimal for pumping.
From Science Magazine • Apr. 6, 2023
The patient eventually needed a rare treatment known as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, which involves gentle vibrations that move air around in the lungs.
From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2021
In this case, the function may have some oscillatory behavior.
From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016
He lifted the crucible, shook it for a moment with an oscillatory motion, then replaced it on the fire.
From The Blue Goose by Nason, Frank Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
