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

Simplified etymology

Inflection entered English in the Late Middle English period from the Latin word family based on flectere, “to bend.” It originally denoted an act of bending inward and acquired its grammatical sense in the mid-17th century.

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 Language & Linguistics 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
- Language & Linguistics
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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