1. past tense of nutation; moved or caused to move in a nodding or oscillating motion
Usage: technical; astronomy/physics
2. past tense of nutation; (of a plant stem or flower) moved in a slow, circular or spiral motion
Usage: botany

Examples

• The Earth's axis nutated slightly over a 18.6-year cycle.
• The telescope's mirror nutated due to vibrations in the building.
• The sunflower stem nutated as it tracked the sun across the sky.
• The spinning top nutated before it finally fell over.
• Scientists observed how the plant's tendril nutated to find support.