inclination

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnklɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition: John was a scientist by training and inclination Fanny showed little inclination to talk about anything serious [count noun]: he was free to follow his inclinations
  • (inclination for/to/towards) an interest in or liking for (something): my inborn inclination for things with moving parts
  • 2the fact or degree of sloping: changes in inclination of the line on the graph
  • the angle at which a straight line or plane is inclined to another.
  • the dip of a magnetic needle.
  • Astronomy the angle between the orbital plane of a planet, comet, etc. and the ecliptic, or between the orbital plane of a satellite and the equatorial plane of its primary: cometary orbits vary widely in inclination
  • 3an act of inclining the body or head: the questioner’s inclination of his head

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin inclinatio(n-), from inclinare 'bend towards' (see incline)