indentation

[ in-den-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a cut, notch, or deep recess:

   various bays and indentations.

2. a series of incisions or notches:

   the indentation of a maple leaf.

3. a notching or being notched.
4. indention ( defs 1, 2 ).

indentation

/ ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a hollowed, notched, or cut place, as on an edge or on a coastline
2. a series of hollows, notches, or cuts
3. the act of indenting or the condition of being indented
4. Also calledindentionindent the leaving of space or the amount of space left between a margin and the start of an indented line

indentation

1. A space left between the left-hand margin of a line of type or handwriting and the beginning of a sentence or quotation. The beginning of a paragraph is usually indented.

Word History and Origins

Origin of indentation¹

First recorded in 1715–25; indent ¹ + -ation

Example Sentences

The first is a generous, pear-shaped indentation to hold a lit cigarette or cigar.

From Los Angeles Times

The first is a generous, pear-shaped indentation to hold a lit cigarette or cigar.

From Los Angeles Times

And not only was her head empty, she now had an indentation in the shell where he’d kicked her.

From Literature

Sure enough, there at the top where the worn-down lines came together was a small indentation in the shape of a crown.

From Literature

Get hands-on with it if you like: Gold Coast Ghal’s menu invites diners to use their fufu as a utensil in the West African way, which servers will explain is simply pulling a piece off and pressing an indentation into it to scoop up the soup.

From Seattle Times