inclination
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a feeling that makes you want to behave in a certain way or do a particular thing.
a person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way.
Simple“I have no inclination to go out in this heavy rain.”
In context“Despite his artistic inclination, he decided to pursue a degree in law to satisfy his parents' expectations of a stable career.”
SynonymsAntonymsaversiondisinclination - 02 C1 Advanced
a physical slope or the degree to which something tilts.
a physical slant, slope, or the angle at which something is inclined.
Simple“The steep inclination of the roof helps the snow slide off easily.”
In context“The surveyor measured the inclination of the hillside to determine if the ground was stable enough for the new housing development.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the angle between the orbit of a planet and another plane, like the Earth's orbit.
the angle between the plane of an orbit and a reference plane, such as the ecliptic or celestial equator.
Simple“The satellite was launched into an orbit with a high inclination.”
In context“Calculating the precise orbital inclination was critical for ensuring the spacecraft could successfully intercept the asteroid's path.”
“Whether friends shape entrepreneurial inclinations or simply reveal inclinations already forming, something important is happening long before the first business begins.”
“A subsequent gravity assist at Saturn would alter the spacecraft's orbital plane to match Halley's high inclination while not requiring it to burn through any additional chemical propellant.”
From Middle English inclinacioun, inclinacyon, from Old French inclination and Latin inclīnātiō. Morphologically incline + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.