Uneven side-to-side movement, hesitation after confidence weakens, a brief dip in performance or markets, astronomical variation in an axis or orbit, and a genetics term for flexible codon pairing.
A short uneven movement from side to side, or a visible lack of steadiness
Examples
There was a noticeable wobble in the front wheel.
The car's wobble became worse at high speeds.
A slight wobble appeared in her voice.
The gymnast corrected the wobble in her landing.
The ladder had a dangerous wobble on the uneven floor.
A tiny wobble in the beam made the image blur.
Similar words
shake
sway
rocking
jiggle
tremor
quiver
oscillation
Brief loss of confidence
noun
business
informal
A short period of uncertainty, weakness, or falling value after something had seemed steady
Examples
Share prices recovered after a brief wobble.
The team's late wobble almost cost them the match.
A sharp wobble in profits worried analysts.
The campaign survived an early wobble in the polls.
Investors treated the fall as a temporary wobble.
The new product had a wobble after several poor reviews.
Similar words
dip
setback
stumble
faltering
fluctuation
slip
Astronomical or axial variation
noun
astronomy
technical
A small variation in the axis, orbit, or measured motion of a rotating or orbiting body
Examples
Astronomers detected a wobble in the star's motion.
The Chandler wobble is a small motion of Earth's rotation axis.
A planet can reveal itself through the wobble it causes in its host star.
The satellite data showed a slight wobble in the orbit.
Earth's polar wobble is measured with precise geodetic instruments.
The model separated orbital drift from a true wobble.
Similar words
oscillation
precession
nutation
orbital variation
axis wobble
astrometric wobble
Flexible codon pairing
noun
biology
technical
A nonstandard pairing between a codon and anticodon base that lets one tRNA recognize more than one codon
Examples
The wobble hypothesis explains why fewer tRNAs can read many codons.
A G-U wobble pair can appear in RNA structure.
Inosine allows wobble pairing with several codon bases.
The third codon position is often called the wobble position.
The lecture covered wobble rules in protein translation.
Modified tRNA bases can change the range of wobble pairing.
Similar words
wobble pairing
nonstandard pairing
flexible pairing
wobble base pairing
Etymology
Probably from Low German wabbeln, meaning "to wobble", with older Germanic relatives connected to wavering or restless motion.
FAQ
What does wobble mean?
Wobble means to move unsteadily from side to side, or to become uncertain after seeming steady.
Is wobble a verb or a noun?
Wobble is both a verb and a noun, as in the table wobbles and a wobble in the wheel.
What is the past tense of wobble?
The past tense of wobble is wobbled.
Can wobble mean hesitate?
Yes. Figuratively, wobble can mean to waver, lose confidence, or become unsure about a decision.
What is a market wobble?
A market wobble is a brief dip or loss of confidence, not a long collapse.
What is Earth's wobble?
Earth's wobble usually means a small variation in its rotation axis or polar motion, not a flip of the planet.
What is the wobble hypothesis?
The wobble hypothesis explains how flexible codon-anticodon pairing lets one tRNA recognize more than one codon.
Where does wobble come from?
Wobble probably comes from Low German wabbeln, with relatives tied to wavering or moving unsteadily.
Comments & contributions
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Autumn Falcon
Jul 11
Music people use wobble for bass as well, especially dubstep. A wobble bass is not the speaker physically shaking, its the synth bass being rhythmically modulated so it goes wub wub wub
1
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Contribution
Perky Falcon
Jun 27
Speed wobble is its own beast on bikes and motorbikes. Riders also call it shimmy or a tank slapper.
4
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Wise Badger
Jul 9
skateboarders say death wobble too, usually when the hill was a bad idea
1
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Snappy Skylark
Jun 19
Had a bit of a wobble is something I hear all the time in the UK for nerves. Before an interview, after resigning, day 3 of trying not to text your ex, whatever. It is not really I changed my opinion, more I nearly lost my bottle for a minute.
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Quiet Giraffe
Jun 21
yeah this is very UK to my ear. not a full breakdown, just a shaky moment