synclinal

American  

[sin-klahyn-l, sing-, sing-kli-nl] / sɪnˈklaɪn l, sɪŋ-, ˈsɪŋ klɪ nl /

adjective

1. sloping downward from opposite directions so as to meet in a common point or line.

2. Geology.

   1. inclining upward on both sides from a median line or axis, as a downward fold of rock strata.

   2. pertaining to such a fold.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• synclinally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of synclinal

1825–35; syn- + Greek klī́n ( ein ) to lean ¹ + -al ¹

Example Sentences

This basin may be, on the whole, considered as a continuation of the synclinal depression of the Manych, which stretches along the northern foot of the Caucasus from the Sea of Azov.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

Subsequent movements produced in the Nova Scotia and the adjoining New Brunswick coal-fields the usual anticlinal and synclinal flexures.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

Then the Old Red Sandstone again rises as an undulating upland through the centre of the county, with a few synclinal patches of Carboniferous Shale and Limestone caught in on its back.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various

At Donegal Bay the Lower Carboniferous sandstone and limestone come in as a synclinal, and the limestone extends to Bundoran.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various

The present surface of anticlinal sandstone ridges and synclinal limestone hollows thus began to arise; but the main streams still held on their courses across the strike, that is, from north to south.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various