NUTATION

nutation. Nutation, n. a nodding, tremulous motion, shake

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Nu‐ta″tion (?), n. [[L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F. nutation.]] 1. 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. 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. 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.