librate

[ lahy-breyt ]

verb (used without object)

, li·brat·ed, li·brat·ing.

1. to oscillate or move from side to side or between two points.
2. to remain poised or balanced.

librate

/ ˈlaɪbreɪt; ˈlaɪbrətərɪ; -trɪ /

verb

1. to oscillate or waver
2. to hover or be balanced

Derived Forms

• libratory, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of librate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin lībrātus, past participle of lībrāre “to balance, make level, bring to equilibrium”; Libra, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of librate¹

C17: back formation from libration

Example Sentences

As a consequence, while Enceladus moves through its slightly elliptical orbit, Saturn's gravitational field rocks the moon back and forth - or 'librates' it by tiny amounts.

From Scientific American

Cause of librations.—That the moon should librate is by no means so remarkable a fact as that it should at all times turn very nearly the same face toward the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

At this period the balance of tropic and pole librates, and the vast atmospheric tides pour their flood upon one hemisphere and their ebb upon another.

From Project Gutenberg

He proceeded to see if by making the planet librate, or the plane of its orbit tilt up and down, anything could be done.

From Project Gutenberg

Whence the objects appear to librate or circulate according to the motions of our heads, which is called dizziness; and we lose the means of balancing ourselves, or preserving our perpendicularity, by vision.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fluctuate
• lurch
• seesaw
• teeter
• vacillate
• waver
• wobble