ˌinkləˈnāshən, ˌiŋk- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English inclinacioun, from Middle French inclination, from Latin inclination-, inclinatio, from inclinatus (past participle of inclinare ) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : an act or the action of bending or inclining: as
a. : a bending forward of the head or body (as in respect, greeting, or acknowledgment) : bow , nod
acknowledged his greeting with a slight inclination
b. : a tilting of something
2.
a. obsolete : natural disposition : nature , character
b. obsolete : a turning of the mind in a particular direction : attention
c. : a particular disposition of mind or character : propensity , bent
a man of fixed inclinations
usually : favorable disposition especially toward a particular thing, activity, or end : liking , desire
a strong inclination toward study
an inclination to make the best of things
3.
a. : direction or trend out of the true vertical or horizontal
the inclination of a column
the roadbed had considerable inclination
b. : amount of deviation from the vertical or horizontal : degree or rate of slope or slant : grade
an inclination of 20 degrees
c. : an inclined surface : slope , incline
worked their way down the steep inclination
d.
(1) : the angle determined by two lines or planes
the inclination of two rays of light
(2) in plane analytic geometry : the angle made by a line with the x-axis measured counterclockwise from the positive direction of that axis
4.
a. : a tendency to a particular aspect, state, character, or action
men judge by the complexion of the sky the state and inclination of the day — Shakespeare
some inclination to snow
the clutch had an inclination to slip
b. : something to which one is inclined : an object of habit or favor : liking
5. : dip 3b
6. : enclisis
• in·cli·na·tion·al | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|nāshən ə l, -shnəl adjective