cline

[ klahyn ]

noun

Biology. the gradual change in certain characteristics exhibited by members of a series of adjacent populations of organisms of the same species.
Linguistics. (in systemic linguistics) a scale of continuous gradation; continuum.

Origin of cline

1935–40; <Greek klī́nein to lean¹

Other words from cline

clinal, adjective
clin·al·ly, adverb

Other definitions for Cline (2 of 2)

Cline

[ klahyn ]

noun

Patsy Virginia Patterson Hensley, 1932–63, U.S. country singer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cline in a sentence

Back in Washington the next day, I opened a sobering email from cline.
“Those of Us Who Don’t Die Are Going to Quit”: A Crush of Patients, Dwindling Supplies and the Nurse Who Lost Hope | by J. David McSwane | December 30, 2020 | ProPublica
In her post-death report, cline described how the patient fell victim to a hospital in chaos.
“Those of Us Who Don’t Die Are Going to Quit”: A Crush of Patients, Dwindling Supplies and the Nurse Who Lost Hope | by J. David McSwane | December 30, 2020 | ProPublica
It was just a glimpse at the chaos disrupting the crucial supply chain on which cline’s existence depended.
“Those of Us Who Don’t Die Are Going to Quit”: A Crush of Patients, Dwindling Supplies and the Nurse Who Lost Hope | by J. David McSwane | December 30, 2020 | ProPublica
Aides to Wittman did not respond to multiple requests for comment, while a spokesman for cline pointed to a Facebook statement the congressman posted Thursday.
These GOP members of Congress from Virginia, Maryland back Texas suit to overturn election | Meagan Flynn | December 11, 2020 | Washington Post
In an interview, cline said the action was provoked by the coronavirus restrictions but is aimed at the bigger issue of freedom from government overreach.
Rural Virginia county officials pass resolution rejecting ‘tyranny’ of governor’s coronavirus restrictions | Gregory S. Schneider | December 3, 2020 | Washington Post

Clinal variation, from north to south, is shown in the decreasing length of the nasals.
Speciation in the Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii | Henry W. Setzer
No clinal variation in diameter of the guard hairs was detected.
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus) | Philip H. Krutzsch
Geographic variation in these measurements is clinal in some species.
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus) | Philip H. Krutzsch
The number of pale specimens in any given series decreases gradually in a clinal pattern from west to east.
Geographic Variation in the Pocket Gopher, Thomys bottae, in Colorado | Phillip M. Youngman
One of the species of Trinomys, Proechimys iheringi, is here subdivided into six subspecies which show a clinal variation.
Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny Rats | Joo Moojen

British Dictionary definitions for cline (1 of 3)

cline

/ (klaɪn) /

noun

a continuous variation in form between members of a species having a wide variable geographical or ecological range

Origin of cline

C20: from Greek klinein to lean

Derived forms of cline

clinal, adjective
clinally, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for Cline (2 of 3)

Cline

/ (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"

British Dictionary definitions for -cline (3 of 3)

-cline

n combining form

indicating a slope: anticline

Origin of -cline

back formation from incline

Derived forms of -cline

-clinal, adj combining form

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for cline

cline

[ klīn ]

A gradual change in an inherited characteristic across the geographic range of a species, usually correlated with an environmental transition such as altitude, temperature, or moisture. For example, the body size in a species of warm-blooded animals tends to be larger in cooler climates (a latitudinal cline), while the flowering time of a plant may tend to be later at higher altitudes (an altitudinal cline). In species in which the gene flow between adjacent populations is high, the cline is typically smooth, whereas in populations with restricted gene flow the cline usually occurs as a series of relatively abrupt changes from one group to the next.

Browse