undulation
/ˌʌndʒəˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndʒəˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-jə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce undulation (audio) ˌən-dyə-, ˌən-də-/ (ame, mw)
undulation — 名詞
- undulationsingular
- undulationsplural
1. a smooth, wave-like motion or shape where something rises and falls gently in a
波狀起伏
波浪般的上下起伏或彎曲形狀
a smooth, wave-like motion or shape where something rises and falls gently in a flowing pattern — for example, the movement of long grass in the wind or the curves of a winding road.
From the hilltop, Elena watched the gentle undulation of the wheat fields beneath the breeze.
從山頂上，Elena 看著微風吹拂下麥田的輕柔起伏。
collocation: gentle undulation
The coastal road followed the undulation of the hills for nearly forty miles.
這條沿海道路沿著山丘的起伏延伸了近四十英里。
Joaquín could see the slow undulation of the snake's body as it moved through dry leaves.
Joaquín 可看見蛇身隨著在枯葉間移動而緩慢波動。
A faint undulation in the carpet showed where the old floorboards had begun to warp below.
地毯上隱約的起伏顯示出底下舊地板已經開始彎曲變形。
Karim painted the soft undulation of the desert dunes in shades of gold and amber.
Karim 用金色與琥珀色調畫出了沙漠沙丘的柔和起伏。
- wave
much more common and versatile; can refer to a single peak of water or a figurative surge; undulation emphasizes a continuous flowing series
- ripple
smaller, lighter surface movement; less dramatic and more localized than undulation
- swell
a slow, smooth upward movement, especially of the sea; lacks the 'curving shape' aspect of undulation
- billow
a large rolling mass (smoke, cloud, fabric); implies swelling outward rather than sequential rising and falling
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives describing the quality of movement (gentle, soft, slow, slight, rhythmic). Countable when pointing to a specific wave-like curve or feature; uncountable when used as a general concept (the undulation of the sea).