fluctuate

intransitive verb fluctuated, fluctuating

1. to move back and forth or up and down; rise and fall; undulate, as waves
2. to be continually changing or varying in an irregular way: prices fluctuated wildly

Origin: < L fluctuatus, pp. of fluctuare < fluctus, a flowing, wave < pp. stem of fluere, to flow < IE *bhleu-, to swell up, flow (> bluster) < base *bhel-, to swell up > ball

transitive verb