释义 |
in·flec·tion \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 |