undulation

• Nom désignant un mouvement ondulatoire, une élévation et un abaissement réguliers à la manière des vagues, ou une courbe sinueuse ; en physique, il peut aussi décrire un mouvement de haut en bas ou d'avant en arrière.

A noun referring to a wavelike motion, a gentle rising and falling in the manner of waves, or an undulating curve; in physics, it can also describe a movement up and down or back and forth.

1. Wavelike curve or shapeC1formal

   A wavy, curving line or surface that rises and falls gently.

   Ondulation

   • The landscape was marked by gentle undulations of green hills.
   • The artist captured the undulation of the sand dunes in her painting.
   • The road followed the natural undulation of the terrain.

   Synonymesbillowcurvaturemeanderripplerollingsinuosityswellwavewaviness

2. Wavelike motionC1formal

   A gentle rising and falling movement, similar to the motion of waves.

   Mouvement ondulatoire

   • The undulation of the wheat field in the wind was mesmerizing.
   • The dancer's movements had a smooth, rhythmic undulation.
   • The boat rocked with the undulation of the sea.

   Synonymesfluctuationoscillationrippleswellwave

3. Physical wave motionC2formalscientific

   A movement up and down or back and forth, as in a wave or oscillation.

   Ondulation (mouvement physique)

   • The undulation of the string created a standing wave pattern.
   • Sound waves are a form of undulation through a medium.
   • The seismograph recorded the undulation of the ground during the earthquake.

   Synonymesfluctuationheaveoscillationpulsationrippleswayvibrationwave