Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   inflection

   /ɪnˈflɛkʃn/

   noun

   • 1. a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender: "a set of word forms differing only in respect of inflections" Similar conjugationdeclensionformendingcase
   • ▪ the process or practice of inflecting words.
   • 2. the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice: "she spoke slowly and without inflection" Similar stresscadencerhythmaccentuationintonationemphasismodulationmetremeasurerise and fallswingliltbeatchange of pitchchange of tonechange of timbre
   • ▪ the variation of the pitch of a musical note.
   • 3. a change of curvature from convex to concave at a particular point on a curve: "the point of inflection of the bell-shaped curve" Similar curvingcurvaturebendingturningcurvebendturnbowcrookanglearcarch

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the action of bending inwards’): from Latin inflexio(n-), from the verb inflectere ‘bend in, curve’ (see inflect).

   Derivatives

   • 1. inflectionless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points