v. 1 tr. change the pitch of (the voice, a musical note, etc.). 2 Gram. a tr. change the form of (a word) to express tense, gender, number, mood, etc. b intr. (of a word, language, etc.) undergo such change. 3 tr. bend inwards; curve. inflective adj.
[ ME f. L inflectere inflex- (as IN-(2), flectere bend) ]