saltation
Americannoun
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a dancing, hopping, or leaping movement.
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an abrupt movement or transition.
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Geology. intermittent, leaping movement of particles of sand or gravel, as from the force of wind or running water.
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Biology. a sudden, drastic genetic mutation or series of mutations occurring between one generation and the next, especially one that generates a new species.
noun
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biology an abrupt variation in the appearance of an organism, species, etc, usually caused by genetic mutation
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geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles carried in water or by the wind
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a sudden abrupt movement or transition
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet, saltation from winds may be sufficient to move or remove materials not anchored by vegetation.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
Sand grains can be moved by traction and saltation.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
Wind-induced saltation abrasion of the rocks in Yellowknife Bay appears to have been the mechanism responsible for erosion and exhumation of the ancient lake bed sampled by Curiosity.
From Science Magazine • Jan. 23, 2014
I’m trying, rather, to work out and articulate some of the troubling questions that arise amid all the laughter and saltation and community pride of the Maine Lobster Festival.
From Slate • Sep. 29, 2012
Hence it applied to religious festivals in which dancing round the idol played a prime part; and Lucian of "saltation" says, dancing was from the beginning and coeval with the ancient god, Love.
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 05 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
