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inclination

Syllabification: (in·cli·na·tion)

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Definition of inclination

noun

  • 1a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition or propensity:John was a scientist by training and inclination he was free to follow his inclinations
  • (inclination for/to/toward) an interest in or liking for (something):Burger King and Wendy’s didn’t show any inclination to jump into a price war with McDonald’s
  • 2a slope or slant:changes in inclination of the line on the graph
  • a bending of the body or head in a bow:the questioner’s inclination of his head
  • the dip of a magnetic needle.
  • 3the angle at which a straight line or plane is inclined to another.
  • 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.
  • Astronomy the angle between the axis of an astronomical object and a fixed reference angle.

Origin:

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

inclination in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of inclination in the British & World English dictionary
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