nutation Meaning, Definition & Usage

Nu*ta"tion noun

Etymology

L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F. nutation.

Definitions

1. The act of nodding.

   So from the midmost the nutation spreads, Round and more round, o'er all the sea of heads. Pope.

2. (Astron.) A very small libratory motion of the earth's axis, by which its inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is constantly varying by a small amount.
3. (Bot.) (a) The motion of a flower in following the apparent movement of the sun, from the east in the morning to the west in the evening. (b) Circumnutation.