Word of the Day - 09/18/26
undulate
(v.): move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motionThe sea anemone's tentacles undulated gracefully in the current.
(v.): occur in soft rounded shapes
The desert dunes undulate for miles, creating a mesmerizing landscape.
(adj.): having a wavy margin and rippled surface
The botanical illustration showed a leaf with an undulate edge, typical of that species.
(v.): increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves
The siren's sound undulated as the ambulance approached, then receded.
Word Origin
The word 'undulate' originates from the Late Latin 'undulatus', which is the past participle of 'undulare', meaning 'to move in waves'. This in turn derives from the Latin word 'unda', meaning 'wave'. The word can be broken down into 'unda' (wave) + '-ulate' (a verb suffix, indicating 'to make' or 'to cause to be').
Words with similar origins include 'inundate', from Latin 'in' (into) + 'unda' (wave), meaning to flood or overwhelm; 'redundant', from Latin 're' (back, again) + 'unda' (wave), referring to something overflowing or superfluous; and 'undine', a mythical water spirit, directly from 'unda'.