Inclination
WordNet
noun
(1) The act of inclining; bending forward
"An inclination of his head indicated his agreement"
(2) A characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect
"The alkaline inclination of the local waters"
"Fabric with a tendency to shrink"
(3) The property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
"The tower had a pronounced tilt"
"The ship developed a list to starboard"
"He walked with a heavy inclination to the right"
(4) An attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
"He had an inclination to give up too easily"
"A tendency to be too strict"
(5) That toward which you are inclined to feel a liking
"Her inclination is for classical music"
(6) (geometry) the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line (measured counterclockwise from the positive half of the x-axis)
(7) (astronomy) the angle between the plane of the orbit and the plane of the ecliptic stated in degrees
(8) (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon
WiktionaryText
Etymology
to incline + -ation
Noun
- A physical tilt or bend
- The inclination of his head increased and he awoke with a start.
- A slant or slope
- The road up to the house had a steep inclination.
- A mental tendency
- His inclination to drink escalated to alcoholism.
- The angle of intersection of a reference plane
- The astronomer calculated the inclination of the equator or ecliptic of Earth and the orbital planes of each visible heavenly body.
- Artillery must take account of a weapon's precise inclination