inflection

[in-flek-shuhn]

inflection Definition

  • 1a change in the form of a word that reflects a grammatical distinction, such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender
  • 2the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice

Using inflection: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "inflection" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    In English, verbs inflect to show past tense by adding -ed.

  • Example

    The inflection of the voice can convey different emotions.

  • Example

    Nouns in Latin inflect to show case, such as nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, and vocative.

inflection Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with inflection

  • a point of significant change or turning point in a situation or process

    Example

    The company's decision to invest in new technology marked an inflection point in their growth trajectory.

  • an affix added to the base form of a word to indicate its grammatical function, such as -s for plural nouns or -ed for past tense verbs

    Example

    In the word 'walked,' '-ed' is an inflectional ending indicating past tense.

  • the modulation of pitch or intonation in speech to convey meaning or emotion

    Example

    Her tone inflection suggested she was being sarcastic.

Origins of inflection

from Latin 'inflectere', meaning 'to bend in'

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Summary: inflection in Brief

Inflection [in-flek-shuhn] refers to a change in the form of a word that reflects a grammatical distinction, such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender. It also refers to the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice. Examples include verbs inflecting to show past tense and the inflection of the voice conveying different emotions.