noun
1. the act of inclining
bending forward
e.g. an inclination of his head indicated his agreement
Synonym: inclining
2. a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect
e.g. the alkaline inclination of the local waters
fabric with a tendency to shrink
Synonym: tendency
3. the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
e.g. the tower had a pronounced tilt
the ship developed a list to starboard
he walked with a heavy inclination to the right
Synonym: tiltlistleanleaning
4. an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
e.g. he had an inclination to give up too easily
a tendency to be too strict
Synonym: dispositiontendency
5. that toward which you are inclined to feel a liking
e.g. 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)
Synonym: angle of inclination
7. (astronomy) the angle between the plane of the orbit and the plane of the ecliptic stated in degrees
Synonym: inclination of an orbit
8. (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon
Synonym: dipangle of dipmagnetic dipmagnetic inclination