— saltational , adj.
/sal tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. a dancing, hopping, or leaping movement.
2. an abrupt movement or transition.
3. Geol. intermittent, leaping movement of particles of sand or gravel, as from the force of wind or running water.
4. Biol.
a. a sudden discontinuity in a line of descent.
b. a mutation.
[ 1640-50; saltation- (s. of saltatio ) a dancing, equiv. to saltat ( us ) (ptp. of saltare; see SALTANT) + -ion- -ION ]