cline

[ klahyn ]

/ klaɪn /

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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.

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Origin of cline

1935–40; <Greek klī́nein to lean¹

OTHER WORDS FROM cline

clinal, adjectiveclin·al·ly, adverb

Other definitions for cline (2 of 2)

Cline

[ klahyn ]

/ klaɪn /

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

They were placed in the Union depot to guard the ammunition, Captain Clines at the head?
Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate the Railroad Riots in July, 1877|Various
I couldn't believe it, because I know Colonel Clines ain't going to block himself up in a cage.
Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate the Railroad Riots in July, 1877|Various
Various characters are subject to geographic variation, and some of them follow clines that are maintained over extensive areas.
Natural History of the Racer Coluber constrictor|Henry S. Fitch
The relative length of tail also provides gradients or clines.
Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny Rats|Joo Moojen

Also there are geographic gradients or clines, in number of folds.
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

Derived forms of cline

clinal, adjectiveclinally, adverb

Word Origin for cline

C20: from Greek klinein to lean

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 slopeanticline

Derived forms of -cline

-clinal, adj combining form

Word Origin for -cline

back formation from incline

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.