What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Veer vs Oscillate - What's the difference?

veer | oscillate |

In lang=en terms the difference between veer and oscillate

is that veer is to turn while oscillate is to vary above and below a mean value.

As verbs the difference between veer and oscillate

is that veer is (obsolete|nautical) to let out (a sail-line), to allow (a sheet) to run out or veer can be to change direction or course suddenly; to swerve while oscillate is to swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.

As a noun veer

is a turn or swerve; an instance of veering.

veer

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • (obsolete, nautical) To let out (a sail-line), to allow (a sheet) to run out.
  • *1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , volume 12:
  • *:As when a skilfull Marriner doth reed / A storme approching, that doth perill threat, / He will not bide the daunger of such dread, / But strikes his sayles, and vereth his mainsheat, / And lends vnto it leaue the emptie ayre to beat.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) virer.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A turn or swerve; an instance of veering.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To change direction or course suddenly; to swerve.
    • The car slid on the ice and veered out of control.
  • * (rfdate), Dryden:
    • And as he leads, the following navy veers .
  • * (rfdate), Burke:
    • An ordinary community which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=At this time in 2008, even as the global economy veered toward collapse, optimism about Washington ran surprisingly high.}}
  • (of the wind) To shift in a clockwise direction (if in the Northern Hemisphere, or in a counterclockwise direction if in the Southern Hemisphere).Bowditch 2002
  • (intransitive, nautical, of the wind) To shift aft.
  • (nautical) To change direction into the wind; to ship.
  • To turn.
    • Antonyms
    * back * haul forward

    References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    oscillate

    English

    Verb

    (oscillat)
  • To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
    • A pendulum oscillates slower as it gets longer.
  • To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.
    • The mood for change oscillated from day to day.
  • To vary above and below a mean value.

    • Derived terms

    * oscillation * oscillator

    See also

    * undulate

    External links

    * * * English intransitive verbs ----