nutation

[ noo-tey-shuhn, nyoo- ]

/ nuˈteɪ ʃən, nyu- /

noun

an act or instance of nodding one's head, especially involuntarily or spasmodically.

Botany. spontaneous movements of plant parts during growth.

Astronomy. the periodic oscillation observed in the precession of the earth's axis and the precession of the equinoxes.

Mechanics. the variation of the inclination of the axis of a gyroscope to the vertical.

Origin of nutation

1605–15; <Latin nūtātiōn- (stem of nūtātiō), equivalent to nūtāt(us) (past participle of nūtāre to nod repeatedly; nū- nod + -tā- frequentative suffix + -tus past participle ending) + -iōn--ion; cf. numen

OTHER WORDS FROM nutation

nu·ta·tion·al, adjective

Words nearby nutation

nu soul, Nüsslein-Volhard, nut, nutant, nutate, nutation, nutbrown, nutcase, nutcracker, Nutcracker Suite, nut dash

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for nutation

Its position at a given time, independent of aberration and nutation.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth
The phenomenon is known as the Eulerian nutation, since it is supposed to come under the free rotations first discussed by Euler.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 8|Various
In another place we shall inquire into the cause of the discrepancy as given by the nutation of the earth.
Outlines of a Mechanical Theory of Storms|T. Bassnett
Before he completed his observations for nutation another great change in his fortunes took place.
Astronomical Discovery|Herbert Hall Turner

If, then, a part of the mass be latent, nutation will give too small a value.
Outlines of a Mechanical Theory of Storms|T. Bassnett

British Dictionary definitions for nutation

nutation

/ (njuːˈteɪʃən) /

noun

astronomy a periodic variation in the precession of the earth's axis causing the earth's poles to oscillate about their mean position

physics a periodic variation in the uniform precession of the axis of any spinning body, such as a gyroscope, about the horizontal

Also called: circumnutation the spiral growth of a shoot, tendril, or similar plant organ, caused by variation in the growth rate in different parts

the act or an instance of nodding the head

Derived forms of nutation

nutational, adjective

Word Origin for nutation

C17: from Latin nutātiō, from nūtāre to nod

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for nutation

nutation

[ nōō-tā′shən ]

n.

The act of nodding the head, especially involuntarily.

Scientific definitions for nutation

nutation

[ nōō-tā′shən ]

A small, cyclic variation of the Earth's axis of rotation with a period of 18.6 years, caused by tidal forces (mostly due to the gravity of the Moon). Nutation is a small and relatively rapid oscillation of the axis superimposed on the larger and much slower oscillation known as precession. Although discovered in 1728 by the British astronomer James Bradley (1693-1762), nutation was not explained until two decades later.

A slight curving or circular movement in a stem, as of a twining plant, caused by irregular growth rates of different parts.

单词	nutation
释义	nutation [ noo-tey-shuhn, nyoo- ] / nuˈteɪ ʃən, nyu- / noun an act or instance of nodding one's head, especially involuntarily or spasmodically. Botany. spontaneous movements of plant parts during growth. Astronomy. the periodic oscillation observed in the precession of the earth's axis and the precession of the equinoxes. Mechanics. the variation of the inclination of the axis of a gyroscope to the vertical. Origin of nutation 1605–15; <Latin nūtātiōn- (stem of nūtātiō), equivalent to nūtāt(us) (past participle of nūtāre to nod repeatedly; nū- nod + -tā- frequentative suffix + -tus past participle ending) + -iōn--ion; cf. numen OTHER WORDS FROM nutation nu·ta·tion·al, adjective Words nearby nutation nu soul, Nüsslein-Volhard, nut, nutant, nutate, nutation, nutbrown, nutcase, nutcracker, Nutcracker Suite, nut dash Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for nutation Its position at a given time, independent of aberration and nutation. The Sailor's Word-Book\|William Henry Smyth The phenomenon is known as the Eulerian nutation, since it is supposed to come under the free rotations first discussed by Euler. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 8\|Various In another place we shall inquire into the cause of the discrepancy as given by the nutation of the earth. Outlines of a Mechanical Theory of Storms\|T. Bassnett Before he completed his observations for nutation another great change in his fortunes took place. Astronomical Discovery\|Herbert Hall Turner If, then, a part of the mass be latent, nutation will give too small a value. Outlines of a Mechanical Theory of Storms\|T. Bassnett British Dictionary definitions for nutation nutation / (njuːˈteɪʃən) / noun astronomy a periodic variation in the precession of the earth's axis causing the earth's poles to oscillate about their mean position physics a periodic variation in the uniform precession of the axis of any spinning body, such as a gyroscope, about the horizontal Also called: circumnutation the spiral growth of a shoot, tendril, or similar plant organ, caused by variation in the growth rate in different parts the act or an instance of nodding the head Derived forms of nutation nutational, adjective Word Origin for nutation C17: from Latin nutātiō, from nūtāre to nod Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Medical definitions for nutation nutation [ nōō-tā′shən ] n. The act of nodding the head, especially involuntarily. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Scientific definitions for nutation nutation [ nōō-tā′shən ] A small, cyclic variation of the Earth's axis of rotation with a period of 18.6 years, caused by tidal forces (mostly due to the gravity of the Moon). Nutation is a small and relatively rapid oscillation of the axis superimposed on the larger and much slower oscillation known as precession. Although discovered in 1728 by the British astronomer James Bradley (1693-1762), nutation was not explained until two decades later. A slight curving or circular movement in a stem, as of a twining plant, caused by irregular growth rates of different parts. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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