cline

¹

[ klahyn ]

noun

1. Biology. the gradual change in certain characteristics exhibited by members of a series of adjacent populations of organisms of the same species.
2. Linguistics. (in systemic linguistics) a scale of continuous gradation; continuum.

Cline

²

[ klahyn ]

noun

1. Patsy Virginia Patterson Hensley, 1932–63, U.S. country singer.

-cline

¹

combining form

1. indicating a slope

   anticline

cline

²

/ klaɪn /

noun

1. a continuous variation in form between members of a species having a wide variable geographical or ecological range

Cline

³

/ klaɪn /

noun

1. ClinePatsy19321963FUSMUSIC: country singer Patsy , original name Virginia Patterson Hensley . 1932–63, US country singer; her bestselling records include "Walking After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", and "Leavin' On Your Mind"

cline

/ klīn /

1. A gradual change in an inherited characteristic across the geographic range of a species, usually correlated with an environmental transition such as altitude, temperature, or moisture. For example, the body size in a species of warm-blooded animals tends to be larger in cooler climates (a latitudinal cline), while the flowering time of a plant may tend to be later at higher altitudes (an altitudinal cline). In species in which the gene flow between adjacent populations is high, the cline is typically smooth, whereas in populations with restricted gene flow the cline usually occurs as a series of relatively abrupt changes from one group to the next.

Derived Forms

• -clinal, combining_form:in_adjective
• ˈclinal, adjective
• ˈclinally, adverb

Other Words From

• clinal adjective
• clinal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cline¹

1935–40; < Greek klī́nein to lean ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cline¹

back formation from incline

Origin of cline²

C20: from Greek klinein to lean

Example Sentences

So, Cline officials courted state legislators and hired lobbyists.

From The Daily Beast

In an interview, Buchen said several groups, including Cline and the WMC, gave input on the bill.

From The Daily Beast

Patsy Cline singing the devastating “I Fall to Pieces” before dying in a plane crash at the age of 30.

From The Daily Beast

Three of the targets, Lefkofsky, Pegula, and Cline, were on the the Forbes 400, a list of the richest people in America.

From The Daily Beast

Weinstein, who declined to comment on the case, was the first to receive a letter, followed by Cline on June 14.

From The Daily Beast

Thanks to Mademoiselle Cline's drilling, I was pretty ready at "dicte," and after the first surprise, got along very well.

From Project Gutenberg

Both his company and Cline's bivouacked in the town that night.

From Project Gutenberg

Cline had softly shut the door behind the guest, but involuntarily he backed against it.

From Project Gutenberg

Cline moaned aloud, with a bleating noise, and gabbled argot as she tidied the belongings which Mademoiselle had flung everywhere.

From Project Gutenberg

"Take these things into the dressing-room, Cline," ordered Marise, tossing her gold bag and furs to the maid.

From Project Gutenberg