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incline
[ verb in-klahyn; noun in-klahyn, in-klahyn ]
verb (used without object)
- to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.
- to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed:
We incline to rest and relaxation these days.
- to tend, in a physical sense; approximate:
The flowers incline toward blue.
- to tend in character or in course of action:
a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.
- to lean; bend.
verb (used with object)
- to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed by to ):
His attitude did not incline me to help him.
- to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.):
He inclined his head in greeting.
- to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.
noun
- an inclined surface; slope; slant.
- Railroads.
- Also called inclined plane,. a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.
- any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.
- Mining.
- an angled shaft following a dipping vein.
- an inclined haulageway.
incline
verb
- to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
- whentr, may take an infinitive to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)
he inclines towards levity
that does not incline me to think that you are right
- to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen
- incline one's earto listen favourably (to)
noun
- an inclined surface or slope; gradient
- short for inclined railway
Derived Forms
- inˈcliner, noun
Other Words From
- in·clin·er noun
- o·ver·in·cline verb overinclined overinclining
- re·in·cline verb reinclined reinclining
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of incline1
Idioms and Phrases
- incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably:
to incline one's ear to another's plea.
Example Sentences
Unnervingly, several Turkish tanks in a 30-strong formation on the side of an incline have their guns pointing into Turkey.
Anyway, this spot on Water Street where the café stood was on a marked incline more than two blocks from the water below.
The text: “…as I tackled the relentlessly unforgiving incline of the most famous downhill ski course in the world.”
A very sharp incline in the 1990s, peaking at about 5,000 in March 2000, then a sharp decline before a steady incline.
Instead, try Hollywood Road for gorgeous local treasures and even a tasteful Mao head if you so incline.
The trains were pulled up the incline at the Lickey by powerful stationary engines.
Here, on the incline leading across Butser Hill, may be noticed the beginning of these things.
A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
O Holy Maries, who can change our tears to blossoms, incline quickly an ear unto my grief!
He brought neither his wife nor children to incline the judges in his favor by their sighs and tears.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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