释义 |
in·cli·na·tion \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 \| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|nāshənəl, -shnəl\ adjective |