oscillano

Oscillano is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb oscillare, meaning they oscillate. It describes motion that moves back and forth around a central position, often in a regular or periodic manner. The form is used with plural subjects such as oggetti, parti del corpo, segnali, or meccanismi. Example: Le antenne oscillano al minimo soffio di vento.

Etymology and usage arise from the Italian verb oscillare, which in turn derives from Latin oscillare, linked to the sense of swinging or swaying. The core idea—back-and-forth movement—remains evident across Romance languages, with oscillate in English representing the same concept. In practice, oscillano appears in everyday language as well as technical writing to describe repeated motion or variation.

In science and engineering, the term is often encountered in descriptions of periodic motion. An oscillating system, such as a pendulum or a mass–spring oscillator, moves around an equilibrium position in a regular cycle. Electrical engineering uses the related noun oscillatore for devices that generate periodic signals. In non-technical contexts, oscillano may describe signals, opinions, or moods that swing between states or levels over time.

See also: oscillation, oscillator, oscillazione, oscillatory.