inflection

C1 Topic:Communication

Also spelled inflexion

US /ɪnˈflɛkʃən/ UK /ɪnˈflɛkʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a change in the form of a word to show grammatical features

The verb 'go' has many inflections, such as 'going' and 'gone'.
2

noun
a curve or bend in a line or surface

The inflection of the roof allowed snow to slide off easily.
3

noun
a change in the tone or pitch of the voice

The inflection in her voice conveyed her surprise.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a change in the form of a... declension conjugation bendinginflexionflexion

2 noun · a curve or bend in a line... bend curvature flexureangulationdeflection

3 noun · a change in the tone or... modulationpitch bendtone shiftcadence contour

Word family

Forms inflexions

Etymology

From Latin in- ('on, upon') + flectere ('to bend'), forming inflectere ('to bend upon; influence'); via Old French and Middle English inflection ('change in form', 14th c.) into Modern English inflection ('change in pitch or grammatical form').

Topics

Communication Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# inflection

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈflɛkʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈflɛkʃən/

## Meanings
1. a change in the form of a word to show grammatical features
2. a curve or bend in a line or surface
3. a change in the tone or pitch of the voice

## Examples
- The verb 'go' has many inflections, such as 'going' and 'gone'.
- The inflection of the roof allowed snow to slide off easily.
- The inflection in her voice conveyed her surprise.

## Synonyms
- declension
- conjugation
- bending
- inflexion
- flexion
- bend
- curvature
- flexure
- modulation
- cadence
- contour
- deflection

## Etymology
From Latin in- ('on, upon') + flectere ('to bend'), forming inflectere ('to bend upon; influence'); via Old French and Middle English inflection ('change in form', 14th c.) into Modern English inflection ('change in pitch or grammatical form').

## AI Etymology
Inflection comes from Latin in- ('on, upon') + flectere ('to bend'), forming inflectere ('to bend upon; influence'); via Old French and Middle English inflection ('change in form', 14th c.) into Modern English inflection ('change in pitch or grammatical form'). In current use it is a noun meaning "a change in the form of a word to show grammatical features". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning.

## Topics
- Communication
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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inflection

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