flexion

noun

flex·ion | \ ˈflek-shən

Definition of flexion

1 : the act of flexing or bending

2 : a part bent : bend

3 : inflection sense 3

4a : a bending movement around a joint in a limb (such as the knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of the limb at the joint — compare extension sense 3b

b : a forward raising of the arm or leg by a movement at the shoulder or hip joint

Examples of flexion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your hamstrings are involved in both knee flexion and hip extension, says Borden. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Why You Should Add Hamstring Curls to Your Routine Like Celebrity Trainer Ashley Borden," 10 Oct. 2018 Because this move requires hip flexion and extension, if your hips are especially tight, consider warming them up beforehand by doing several Downward Facing Dogs to Upward Facing Dogs, recommends DiSalvo. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "A Quick Leg, Cardio, and Agility Workout From Celebrity Trainer Simone De La Rue," 16 July 2018 Single-Leg Deadlift Improves: Hamstring strength for hip extension and knee flexion through each stroke Hold a free weight in your right hand and let your left foot hover above the floor putting most of your weight in your right foot. — Philly.com, "4 essential strength training moves for cyclists," 5 June 2018 Accelerating down the runway will put some flexion into the wings, likely giving them a bit of a flapping quality as the plane takes off. — Michael Belfiore, Popular Mechanics, "Say Hello to Stratolaunch, the World's Largest Plane," 17 Apr. 2012 Over a career spanning more than five decades and some 30 books, Roth’s themes were elaborated: lust, Jewishness in its New World colorations, and the large flexions of history that rose from the alignment of the two. — Nathan Heller, Vogue, "Remembering Philip Roth, Literary Risk-Taker," 23 May 2018 The good news, though, was that her tendon sheaths, which facilitate the movement of the tendons and flexion of the limbs, had been spared. — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Red Ruby wins Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico," 19 May 2018 Analysis will show the perfect center of gravity, the perfect circumference of the right thigh versus the left, the ideal size of the multifidus, the proper flexion of one ankle over another, the most efficient rotation of each hip. — John Branch, New York Times, "Short-Track Speedskaters Are Lopsided," 20 Feb. 2018 What this means is that during the forward lunge, as the front foot hits the ground, the body's momentum moves forward, which may increase the angle of the knee flexion, explains Perkins. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "The Difference Between Forward and Reverse Lunges, and How to Choose Which to Do," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flexion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of flexion was in 1615

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More Definitions for flexion

flexion

noun

flex·ion

variants: also flection \ ˈflek-shən

Medical Definition of flexion

1 : a bending movement around a joint in a limb (as the knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of the limb at the joint — compare extension sense 2

2 : a forward raising of the arm or leg by a movement at the shoulder or hip joint