a continuous variation in form between members of a species having a wide variable geographical or ecological range
Derived forms
clinal (ˈclinal)
adjective
clinally (ˈclinally)
adverb
Word origin
C20: from Greek klinein to lean
Cline in British English
(klaɪn)
noun
Patsy, original name Virginia Patterson Hensley. 1932–63, US country singer; her bestselling records include "Walking After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", and "Leavin' On Your Mind"
-cline in British English
combining form in countable noun
indicating a slope
anticline
Derived forms
-clinal
combining form in adjective
Word origin
back formation from incline
cline in American English
(klaɪn)
noun
a gradual change in a trait or in the frequency of a trait within a species over a geographical area