ə̇nˈflekshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin inflection-, inflectio, Latin inflexion-, inflexio, from inflectus, inflexus (past participle of inflectere to inflect) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at inflect
1. : the act or result of curving or bending
excel in movements and inflections of the hands — Sacheverell Sitwell
: bend , curve
enclosed by inflections of the river — Anthony Powell
2. : change or variation of pitch or loudness : modulation of the voice in speaking or singing
questions end on a rising inflection
inflections of humor, irony, and sentiment which are obvious to a native speaker — Geoffrey Bullough
3.
a. : a modification in pitch or dynamics in a musical line
b. : a change from the monotone in liturgical chanting
4.
a. : the variation or change of form that words undergo to mark distinctions of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, voice, comparison
b. : a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
c. : accidence
5.
a. : change of curvature from concave to convex or conversely
b. or inflection point : the point where such a change takes place