cline C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /klaɪn/ UK /klaɪn/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a gradient of continuous variation in a feature across a range Beak size varied along a cline from the coast inland. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a gradient of continuous... gradientcontinuumgraduationprogressionspectrum Word family Derived forms clinal Etymology AI details Coined in 1938 by biologist Julian Huxley from Ancient Greek klīnein 'to lean, slope' (also seen in 'incline', 'decline'). klīnein Ancient Greek *ḱley- Proto-Indo-European View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # cline **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /klaɪn/ **IPA (UK):** /klaɪn/ ## Meanings 1. a gradient of continuous variation in a feature across a range ## Examples - Beak size varied along a cline from the coast inland. ## Synonyms - gradient - continuum - graduation - progression - spectrum ## Derived Forms - clinal ## Roots and Affixes - Root: klīnein - Root: *ḱley- ## Etymology Coined in 1938 by biologist Julian Huxley from Ancient Greek klīnein 'to lean, slope' (also seen in 'incline', 'decline'). ## AI Etymology Cline is coined in 1938 by biologist Julian Huxley from Ancient Greek klīnein 'to lean, slope' (also seen in 'incline', 'decline'). Important recorded forms include klīnein (Ancient Greek) and *ḱley- (Proto-Indo-European). The current sense covers a gradient of continuous variation in a feature across a range. The wider family includes derived forms such as clinal. ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction markdown