saltation

American  

[sal-tey-shuhn] / sælˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a dancing, hopping, or leaping movement.

2. an abrupt movement or transition.

3. Geology. intermittent, leaping movement of particles of sand or gravel, as from the force of wind or running water.

4. Biology. a sudden, drastic genetic mutation or series of mutations occurring between one generation and the next, especially one that generates a new species.

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saltation British  

/ sælˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. biology an abrupt variation in the appearance of an organism, species, etc, usually caused by genetic mutation

2. geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles carried in water or by the wind

3. a sudden abrupt movement or transition

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saltation Scientific  

/ săl-tā′shən,sôl- /

1. A single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.

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Other Word Forms

• saltational adjective

Etymology

Origin of saltation

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin saltātiōn-, stem of saltātiō “a dancing,” from saltāt(us) (past participle of saltāre; saltant ) + -iō -ion

Related Words

• bounce
• dive
• drop
• fall
• hurdle
• plunge
• rise
• upsurge
• vault