inclination

From Middle English inclinacioun, inclinacyon, from Old French inclination and Latin inclīnātiō.

• IPA^(key): /ɪn.klɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

inclination (countable and uncountable, plural inclinations)

1. A physical tilt or bend.
   • The inclination of his head increased and he awoke with a start.
2. A slant or slope.
   • The road up to the house had a steep inclination.
3. A mental tendency.
   • His inclination to drink escalated to alcoholism.
4. (geometry) The angle of intersection of a reference plane

   The astronomer calculated the inclination of the equator or ecliptic of Earth and the orbital planes of each visible heavenly body.

   Artillery must take account of a weapon's precise inclination.

5. (obsolete) A person or thing loved or admired.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir W. Temple to this entry?)

   “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” — John Adams

• (slant or slope): incline, inclining, steepness
• (tendency): leaning, proclivity

• inclinational

• inclinable
• incline
• inclined plane
• inclinometer

• anilinction

Borrowed from Latin inclīnātiō, inclīnātiōnem. See also inclinaison.

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.kli.na.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

inclination f (plural inclinations)

1. inclination (all senses)

• incliner

• “inclination” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).