What does "nutation" mean?

A bobbing motion that accompanies the precession of a spinning rigid body.

Nutation

Common synonyms include: axial wobble, fluctuation, frequency, frequency band, gesture of assent, head nod.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A bobbing motion that accompanies the precession of a spinning rigid body. countable, uncountable
2
uncontrolled nodding wordnet
3
A nodding motion (of the head etc.). countable, uncountable
4
Any of several irregularities in the precession of the equinoxes caused by varying torque applied to the Earth by the Sun and the Moon. countable, uncountable
5
The circular motion of the tip of a growing shoot. countable, uncountable

1610s, from Latin nūtātiō (“nodding”), from nūtō (“I nod”). Compare mutation.