inflection

[ in-flek-shuhn ]

noun

1. modulation of the voice; change in pitch or tone of voice.
2. Also Grammar.
   1. the process or device of adding affixes to or changing the shape of a base to give it a different syntactic function without changing its form class.
   2. the paradigm of a word.
   3. a single pattern of formation of a paradigm:

      noun inflection; verb inflection.

   4. the change in the shape of a word, generally by affixation, by means of which a change of meaning or relationship to some other word or group of words is indicated.
   5. the affix added to produce this change, as the -s in dogs or the -ed in played.
   6. the systematic description of such processes in a given language, as in serves from serve, sings from sing, and harder from hard ( derivation ).
3. a bend or angle.
4. Mathematics. a change of curvature from convex to concave or vice versa.

inflection

/ ɪnˈflɛkʃən /

noun

1. modulation of the voice
2. grammar a change in the form of a word, usually modification or affixation, signalling change in such grammatical functions as tense, voice, mood, person, gender, number, or case
3. an angle or bend
4. the act of inflecting or the state of being inflected
5. See point of inflection
   maths a change in curvature from concave to convex or vice versa See also point of inflection

inflection

1. A change in the form of a word to reflect different grammatical functions of the word in a sentence. English has lost most of its inflections. Those that remain are chiefly possessive ('s), as in “the boy's hat”; plural ( -s ), as in “the three girls ”; and past tense ( -d or -ed ), as in cared . Other inflections are found in pronouns — as in he , him , his — and in irregular words such as think/thought , child/children , and mouse/mice .

Derived Forms

• inˈflectionless, adjective
• inˈflectionally, adverb
• inˈflectional, adjective

Other Words From

• in·flection·less adjective
• prein·flection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflection¹

1525–35; variant spelling of inflexion < Latin inflexiōn- (stem of inflexiō ) a bending. See inflect, -ion

Example Sentences

Recognizing that things have truly changed has always been difficult for those living through inflection points in history.

From The Daily Beast

The obvious inflection point in the show occurs with the jump from icons of the 40s and 50s, to those of the 60s and 70s.

From The Daily Beast

For a president who believes in playing the long game, this was an inflection point.

From The Daily Beast

In each role he seemed to be behaving, not acting; every gesture and inflection was instinctive.

From The Daily Beast

With the spoken word, we use our tone, inflection and volume to question, exclaim and convey our feelings.

From The Daily Beast

Practise gliding in the form of inflection, or slide, from one extreme of pitch to another.

From Project Gutenberg

"The old king" and "this one" they say with an inflection of voice anything but flattering to the latter.

From Project Gutenberg

The name signifies little thunder, being a compound from Annimikee, thunder, and the diminutive inflection in us.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinction between the active and passive voice, in the Odjibwa language, is formed by the inflection ego.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps it was the derisive inflection on "book agent" that woke Albert.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• articulation
• pronunciation
• timbre
• tone of voice