nutation

One entry found for nutation.

Main Entry: nu·ta·tion
Pronunciation: nü-'tA-sh&n, nyü-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin nutation-, nutatio, from nutare to nod, rock -- more at NUMEN
1 archaic : the act of nodding the head
2 : oscillatory movement of the axis of a rotating body (as the earth) : WOBBLE
3 : a spontaneous usually spiral movement of a growing plant part
- nu·ta·tion·al /-shn&l, -sh&-n^&l/ adjective