noun
undulation
un-juh-LAY-shun/ˌʌndʒəˈleɪʃn/
A smooth rise and fall like a wave.
The gentle undulation forms rounded crests and shallow troughs across the water.
Etymology
The base means “wavelet,” a little wave. Through the sense “wavy,” it supplies the image for undulation: a rising and falling motion shaped like a wave.
In context
Starting in the upper back to lift the chest up. Upper abs, lower abs, release. Up to down. Upper back, upper abs. And that's how you do a basic undulation.
More examples
- The boat rocks with the slow undulation of the sea.
- Gentle undulations in the landscape hide the distant road.
- The snake moves forward with smooth undulations of its body.
Forms
undulation · undulations
undulate verb — To rise and fall in waves.
Similar words
- ripple
- Usually a small surface wave rather than a broad rise.
- oscillation
- Emphasizes repeated back-and-forth movement, not necessarily a wave-like shape.