inflection

in·flec·tion

noun \in-ˈflek-shən\

Definition of INFLECTION

1

: the act or result of curving or bending : bend

2

: change in pitch or loudness of the voice

3

a : the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice b : a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation c : accidence

4

a : change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely b : inflection point

Examples of INFLECTION

1. She spoke with no inflection.
2. She read the lines with an upward inflection.
3. Most English adjectives do not require inflection.
4. “Gone” and “went” are inflections of the verb “go.”
5. English has fewer inflections than many other languages.

First Known Use of INFLECTION

1531

Related to INFLECTION

Synonyms: angle, arc, arch, bow, crook, curvature, curve, bend, turn, wind

Related Words: kink, warp; circle, ring, ringlet, round; coil, curl, curlicue (also curlycue); buckle, convolution, flexure, fold, loop, spiral, swirl, twist, winding; incurvature, reflection; decline, inclination, incline, slope; corner, turnoff; dogleg, hairpin

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with INFLECTION

abjection, advection, affection, bisection, collection, complexion, confection, connection, convection, correction, cross section, C-section, defection, deflection, dejection, detection, direction, ejection, election, erection, infection, injection, inspection, midsection, objection, perfection, prelection, projection, protection, refection, reflection, rejection, resection, selection, subjection, subsection, trajection, transection, trisection