different between fluctuate vs fluctuation

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fluctuo, fluctuatus.

Verb

fluctuate (third-person singular simple present fluctuates, present participle fluctuating, simple past and past participle fluctuated)

1. (intransitive) To vary irregularly; to swing.
2. (intransitive) To undulate. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
3. (intransitive) To be irresolute; to waver.

   I fluctuated between wishing he was back home and wishing I'd never met him.

4. (transitive) To cause to vary irregularly.

Related terms

• fluctuant

Translations

Latin

Verb

fl?ctu?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of fl?ctu?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fluctuati?nem, accusative singular of fluctuati?, from fluctu?, from fluctus.Morphologically fluctuate +? -ion

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fl?kt?u??e???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

fluctuation (countable and uncountable, plural fluctuations)

1. A motion like that of waves; a moving in this and that direction.

   the fluctuations of the sea

2. A wavering; unsteadiness.

   fluctuations of opinion

   fluctuations of prices

3. In medicine, a wave-like motion or undulation of a fluid in a natural or abnormal cavity (e.g. pus in an abscess), which is felt during palpation or percussion.

Related terms

• fluctuate

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fluctuati?nem, accusative singular of fluctuati?, from fluctu?, from fluctus.

Pronunciation

Noun

fluctuation f (plural fluctuations)

1. fluctuation

Related terms

• fluctuer

Further reading

• “fluctuation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).