undulation

[ uhn-juh-ley-shuhn, uhn-dyuh-, -duh- ]

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.

undulation

/ ˌʌndjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of undulating
2. any wave or wavelike form, line, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of undulation¹

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

Example Sentences

After driving beneath a canopy of yellow poplar and eastern hemlock, swerving my van between the endless undulations of the Appalachian Mountains for hours, I pulled into my campsite at Cades Cove and set off walking.

From Outside Online

In the same way that I am intimately familiar with the various distance markers and undulations of my go-to routes, I’m always subconsciously aware of how far I am from the nearest bathroom.

From Outside Online

These collective undulations stirred up flows that prevented the water drop’s edge from contracting as it evaporated.

From Science News

This aurora is caused by undulations in Earth’s magnetic field called chorus waves.

From Science News For Students

Those areas hit home for CEOs at conglomerate Honeywell, hotel chain Marriott International, and retail credit card titan Synchrony—all of which have felt the undulations of a rocky business environment this year.

From Fortune

In this case the undulation strikes but a moderate blow; the wave is not greatly broken.

From Project Gutenberg

From the camp of the previous evening it had evidently been hidden from view by an undulation in the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Herein lies the idea of the barcarolle, the ebb and flow, the undulation of each measure.

From Project Gutenberg

Thirty-six hours were occupied in the journey of the great undulation from Krakatoa to its antipodes.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no appearance of undulation; when the lumps sank, other lumps did not rise in the intervals between them.

From Project Gutenberg