inclination
- a disposition or bent, especially of the mind or will; a liking or preference: Much against his inclination, he was forced to resign.
- something to which one is inclined: In sports his inclination is tennis.
- the act of inclining; state of being inclined.
- a tendency toward a certain condition, action, etc.: the door's inclination to stick.
- deviation or amount of deviation from a normal, especially horizontal or vertical, direction or position.
- an inclined surface.
- Geometry.
- the angle between two lines or two planes.
- the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line.
- Astronomy.
- the angle between the orbital plane of a planet and another given plane, usually the ecliptic.
- the angle between the equatorial and orbital planes of a planet.
- Magnetism. dip1(def 32).
Origin of inclination
Synonyms for inclination
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for inclination
Related Words for inclination
desire, capability, penchant, aptitude, predisposition, leaning, disposition, propensity, bias, prejudice, preference, impulse, temperament, predilection, appetite, affection, proclivity, whim, trend, mindExamples from the Web for inclination
Contemporary Examples of inclination
After all, almost everyone with the inclination to vote will show up at a polling place.
This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.
There is the inclination to respond this complaint on legal grounds.
“The inclination of the human heart is evil from youth,” the Yahwist explains.
The Backstory of ‘Noah’ Is Full of Giants, Horny Angels, and a Grieving GodTim Townsend
March 28, 2014
“To get up and soothe is not my inclination,” says a defiant Romney.
Historical Examples of inclination
I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.
Indeed, Madam, you did me justice to say, I have no inclination to marry at all.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
But give up an inclination, and there is some merit in that.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
What must I think of the man who would wish me to be his wife against my inclination?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
In addition to this motive he felt an inclination to probe the matter to its utmost depths.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
inclination
- (often foll by for, to, towards, or an infinitive) a particular disposition, esp a liking or preference; tendencyI've no inclination for such dull work
- the degree of deviation from a particular plane, esp a horizontal or vertical plane
- a sloping or slanting surface; incline
- the act of inclining or the state of being inclined
- the act of bowing or nodding the head
- maths
- the angle between a line on a graph and the positive limb of the x- axis
- the smaller dihedral angle between one plane and another
- astronomy the angle between the plane of the orbit of a planet or comet and another plane, usually that of the ecliptic
- physics another name for dip (def. 28)
Word Origin and History for inclination
"condition of being mentally disposed" (to do something), late 14c., from Middle French inclination (14c.) and directly from Latin inclinationem (nominative inclinatio) "a leaning, bending," figuratively "tendency, bias, favor," noun of action from past participle stem of inclinare (see incline). Meaning "action of bending toward" (something) is from early 15c. That of "amount of a slope" is from 1799.
inclination
(ĭn′klə-nā′shən)- A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical; a slant.
- The deviation of the long axis of a tooth from perpendicular.
- A tendency toward a certain condition or character.
- A characteristic disposition to do, prefer, or favor one thing rather than another; a propensity.
inclination
- A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical.