Main Entry:

sal·ta·tion

Pronunciation:

\sal-ˈtā-shən, sȯl-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin saltation-, saltatio, from saltare to leap, dance, frequentative of salire to leap — more at sally

Date:

1646

1 a: the action or process of leaping or jumping b: dance2 a: the origin of a new species or a higher taxon in essentially a single evolutionary step that in some especially former theories is held to be due to a major mutation or to unknown causes — compare darwinism, neo-darwinism, punctuated equilibrium b: mutation —used especially of bacteria and fungi