undulatory
- adjective
- /ˈʌndjʊlətɔri/
:
undulante
- The dolphin swam gracefully through the water, moving in an undulatory motion as it danced above the waves.
Examples
-
In the bottom illustration, a bacterium propels itself by waving its flagellum up and down in an undulatory motion.
Academic text (2002) -
The disciplinary man was a discontinuous producer of energy, but the man of control is undulatory, in orbit, in a continuous network.
Academic text (1995) -
The flag flapped in an undulatory pattern, creating a mesmerizing display against the bright blue sky.
-
The children's laughter echoed as they watched the undulatory movements of the colorful kites flying in the breeze.
Synonyms
16
1.3
Having soft, regular curves like small waves, not straight
1
8.7
Wavy shape or movement like waves
1
5.0
Having a smooth up-and-down shape like small ripples
1
4.4
Small waves appear on a surface like water or fabric
1
8.4
Moving back and forth in a regular way
A line or surface that goes up and down in smooth curves
With small, gentle waves on the surface, like water or cloth
Antonyms
Compounds
How Wavy
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Undulatory comes from the Latin root unda meaning 'wave', and you can see the same root in inundate ('to flood'). So something undulatory moves in soft waves or has a 'wavy' shape, like hair, hills, or a snake.