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inclination Definition

in·cli·na·tion (in′klə nā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. the act of bending, leaning, or sloping; esp., a bowing or nodding
  2. an inclined surface or plane; slope; incline; slant
  3. the extent or degree of incline from a horizontal or vertical position, course, etc.
  4. the difference in direction of two lines, planes, or surfaces as measured by the angle between them; specif., a property of a line in a plane, being the angle measured from the positive portion of the x-axis to the line in question
    1. a particular disposition or bent of mind; bias; tendency an inclination to talk
    2. a liking or preference
  6. any action, practice, or thing, toward which one is inclined

Etymology: OFr < L inclinatio < pp. of inclinare, incline

inclination Related Forms
in′·cli·na′·tional adjective
inclination Synonyms

inclination

n.

  1. A tendency

    bent, bias, propensity, predilection, partiality, penchant, proclivity, leaning, predisposition, attachment, capability, capacity, proneness, aptness, fondness, disposition, liking, preference, movement, susceptibility, weakness, drift, trend, turn, slant, impulse, attraction, affection, affinity, desire, temperament, whim, idiosyncrasy, urge, persuasion.

  2. A bow

    bend, bending, bowing; see bow 2.

  3. A slope

    grade, downgrade, incline; see hill.

  4. A trend

    slant, direction, bent; see drift 1.

  5. A slant

    pitch, slope, incline, angle, ramp, declivity, bevel, acclivity, bank, lean, list, tilt; see also grade 1.

inclination refers to a more or less vague mental disposition toward some action, practice, or thing he had an inclination to refuse; leaning suggests a general inclination toward something but implies only the direction of attraction and not the final choice Dr. Green had always had a leaning toward the study of law; bent and propensity imply a natural or inherent inclination coupled with a skill or ability, the latter also connoting an almost uncontrollable attraction she has a bent for art, he has a propensity for getting into trouble; proclivity usually suggests strong inclination as a result of habitual indulgence, usually toward something bad or wrong a proclivity to falsehood

inclination Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • accumulate: It depends on someone's accumulated inclinations how deeply he will consider what he hears.
  • resist: However, Caldwell -- clearly a real film ' buff ' -- resists any inclination to spend much time on any of these films.
  • show: New Labor has shown no inclination to grant the kind of tax exemption pension funds demand.
  • feel: The strain reached a point where he felt no inclination to continue with his work.
  • have: Your child may have a natural inclination to be alert late at night.
  • express: Extension beyond the basics as our children develop will depend on their expressed inclination.

Adjective modifier

  • orbital: Cassini will continue to orbit Saturn, investigating the system for at least four years, from a wide range of orbital inclinations.
  • slight: I had absolutely not the slightest inclination of what was going on.
  • natural: Your child may have a natural inclination to be alert late at night.
  • evil: Third, Jesus had no " evil inclination " which he struggled with.
  • artistic: If you have creative or artistic inclinations, your work will blossom.

Modifies a noun

  • angle: I think something similar can be done with inclination angles.

Noun used with modifier

  • degree: An underground stream emits waves of energy vertically to the surface and two ' sidebands ' at 45 degrees inclination.

Possessives

  • people: By such means I supposed, I might temper peoples ' evident inclination to cast aspersions against my heterosexual identity.

Preposition: of

  • axis: The amount of broadening depends on rotation rate and the angle of inclination of the axis of rotation to the line of sight.
  • earth: That is, within a similar plane in the solar system defined by the inclination of the Earth 's orbit.
  • degree: The artwork can be illuminated by two 40 watt bulbs on either side at an inclination of 45 degrees.
  • head: I looked at them without stirring, replying with an inclination of the head to the bows which some of them made me.
  • flesh: Curb your appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh.
inclination Quotes

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

If your daughters are inclined to love reading, do not check their inclination by hindering them of the diverting part of it. It is as necessary for the amusement of women as the reputation of men; but teach them not to expect anyapplause from it† Ignorance is as much the fountain of vice as idleness, and indeed generally produces it. People that do not read or work for a livelihood have many hours they know not how to employ, especially women, who commonly fall into vapours or something worse.

—Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley ne¤  e Pierrepoint

Vice came in always at the door of necessity, not at the door of inclination.

—Defoe, Daniel

I put for a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.

—Hobbes,Thomas

If I am to disclose to you what I should prefer if I follow theinclinationof mynature,it isthis: beggar-womanand single, far rather than queen and married!

—Elizabeth I

Wer richtig r a« sonniert, erfindet auch; und wer erfinden will, muss r a« sonnieren k o« nnen. Nur die glauben, dass sich das eine von dem anderen trennen lasse, die zu keinem von beiden aufgelegt sind. The man who can reason properly can invent; and anyone who wants to invent must be able to reason. The only people who think that the one can be separated from the other are those who have no inclination for either.

—Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim

There is a wicked inclination in most people to suppose anoldmandecayed inhisintellects.Ifayoungor middle- aged man, when leaving a company, does not recollect where he laid his hat, it is nothing; but if the same inattention is discovered inanold man, people will shrug up their shoulders, and say,'His memory isgoing.'

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Browse dictionary entries near inclination

  1. ‹ inclinable
  2. ‹ inclement
  3. ‹ inclemency
  4. ‹ incl
  5. ‹ incivility
  6. ‹ incitement
  7. ‹ incited
  8. ‹ incite
  9. ‹ incisor
  10. ‹ incisive
  1. incline ›
  2. inclined ›
  3. inclined plane ›
  4. inclinometer ›
  5. inclose ›
  6. inclosure ›
  7. include ›
  8. included ›
  9. including ›
  10. inclusion ›