undulation

American  

[uhn-juh-ley-shuhn, uhn-dyuh-, -duh-] / ˌʌn dʒəˈleɪ ʃən, ˌʌn dyə-, -də- /

noun

1. an act of undulating; a wavelike motion.

2. a wavy form or outline.

3. one of a series of wavelike bends, curves, or elevations.

4. Physics.

   1. a wave.

   2. the motion of waves.

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undulation British  

/ ˌʌndjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of undulating

2. any wave or wavelike form, line, etc

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Etymology

Origin of undulation

First recorded in 1640–50; undul(ate) + -ation

Example Sentences

As Jake reported before us, “They came in like undulations in the water, gathered weight of water, and then broke smoothly on the warm sand,” and warm it was.

From Salon

The market’s undulations staying confined to the financial sphere can be a good thing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her boss' stiff façade slips as his spine and joints move in a constant state of undulation.

From Salon

With just 118 yards left, Lowry knocked his approach left of the hole, took advantage of the green’s undulations and watched as it tracked all the way in for an eagle.

From Seattle Times

So he returned to the stage and started the gentle undulations of the A-flat major étude he had played some 40 minutes earlier — now with even more flowing naturalness.

From New York Times