indentation

American  

[in-den-tey-shuhn] / ˌɪn dɛnˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a cut, notch, or deep recess.

   various bays and indentations.

2. a series of incisions or notches.

   the indentation of a maple leaf.

3. a notching or being notched.

4. indention.

---

indentation British  

/ ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a hollowed, notched, or cut place, as on an edge or on a coastline

2. a series of hollows, notches, or cuts

3. the act of indenting or the condition of being indented

4. Also called: indention.   indent.  the leaving of space or the amount of space left between a margin and the start of an indented line

---

indentation Cultural  

1. A space left between the left-hand margin of a line of type or handwriting and the beginning of a sentence or quotation. The beginning of a paragraph is usually indented.

---

Etymology

Origin of indentation

First recorded in 1715–25; indent ¹ + -ation

Example Sentences

When the cell's receptors detect that the virus has attached, the membrane begins forming a small indentation at that spot.

From Science Daily

I practically choke on my own saliva—the lines, edges, and indentations of my palm pattern are now crackling orange, like embers on a grill.

From Literature

He finishes with special tools that carve out the metal and leave an indentation.

From The Wall Street Journal

For air-fried burgers, flatten your patties as much as possible and press an indentation in the center to prevent them from puffing up.

From Salon

Drive through enough neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and you might notice an odd phenomenon: In front of some newer apartment and commercial buildings, the street is slightly wider, and the sidewalk meanders around the indentation.

From Los Angeles Times