Fluctuate

Fluctuate
Fluctuate Fluc"tu*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fluctuated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fluctuating}.] [L. fluctuatus, p. p. of fluctuare, to wave, fr. fluctus wave, fr. fluere, fluctum, to flow. See {Fluent}, and cf. {Flotilla}.] 1. To move as a wave; to roll hither and thither; to wave; to float backward and forward, as on waves; as, a fluctuating field of air. --Blackmore. [1913 Webster]

2. To move now in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate.

Syn: To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple.

Usage: To {Fluctuate}, {Vacillate}, {Waver}. -- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons and denotes that they move as they are acted upon. The stocks fluctuate; a man fluctuates between conflicting influences. Vacillate and waver are applied to persons to represent them as acting themselves. A man vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his opinions and purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man wavers when he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty or danger. One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually vacillating in resolve, and wavering in execution. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fluctuate — fluc‧tu‧ate [ˈflʌktʆueɪt] verb [intransitive] if prices, income, rates etc fluctuate, they change, increasing or falling often or regularly: • Dealers know that prices fluctuate and that capital losses can be expected. fluctuate around • The… …   Financial and business terms

  • Fluctuate — Fluc tu*ate, v. t. To cause to move as a wave; to put in motion. [R.] [1913 Webster] And fluctuate all the still perfume. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fluctuate — [fluk′cho͞o āt΄] vi. fluctuated, fluctuating [< L fluctuatus, pp. of fluctuare < fluctus, a flowing, wave < pp. stem of fluere, to flow < IE * bhleu , to swell up, flow (> BLUSTER) < base * bhel , to swell up > BALL1] 1. to… …   English World dictionary

  • fluctuate — I verb alter, alternate, be changeful, be intermittent, be periodic, be unsteady, change, change continuously, fluctuare, intermit, move in waves, pendulate, rise and fall, shift, show variety, swing, vary, wave, waver II index beat (pulsate),… …   Law dictionary

  • fluctuate — 1630s, from L. fluctuatus, pp. of fluctuare to undulate (see FLUCTUATION (Cf. fluctuation)). Related: Fluctuated; fluctuates; fluctuating …   Etymology dictionary

  • fluctuate — oscillate, *swing, sway, vibrate, pendulate, waver, undulate Analogous words: alternate, iotate: waver, vacillate (see HESITATE) Contrasted words: fix, *set, establish, settle: resolve, determine, *decide …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fluctuate — [v] vacillate, change alter, alternate, be undecided, blow hot and cold*, ebb and flow, flutter, go up and down*, hem and haw*, hesitate, oscillate, rise and fall*, seesaw*, shift, swing, undulate, vary, veer, vibrate, wave, waver, yo yo*;… …   New thesaurus

  • fluctuate — ► VERB ▪ rise and fall irregularly in number or amount. DERIVATIVES fluctuation noun. ORIGIN Latin fluctuare undulate , from fluere to flow …   English terms dictionary

  • fluctuate — 01. The value of the Canadian dollar has been [fluctuating] between 65 and 67 cents American for the last few months. 02. You can expect minor [fluctuations] in your weight during the time you are doing heavy exercise. 03. His temperature has… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • fluctuate — v. 1) (D; intr.) to fluctuate between 2) (D; intr.) to fluctuate with (his mood fluctuates with the weather) * * * [ flʌktʃʊeɪt] (D; intr.) to fluctuate between (D;intr.) to fluctuate with (his mood fluctuates with the weather) …   Combinatory dictionary

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