saltation

[ sal-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a dancing, hopping, or leaping movement.
2. an abrupt movement or transition.
3. Geology. intermittent, leaping movement of particles of sand or gravel, as from the force of wind or running water.
4. Biology. a sudden, drastic genetic mutation or series of mutations occurring between one generation and the next, especially one that generates a new species.

saltation

/ sælˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. biology an abrupt variation in the appearance of an organism, species, etc, usually caused by genetic mutation
2. geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles carried in water or by the wind
3. a sudden abrupt movement or transition

saltation

/ săl-tā′shən,sôl- /

1. A single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.

Other Words From

• sal·ta·tion·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltation¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin saltātiōn-, stem of saltātiō “a dancing,” from saltāt(us) (past participle of saltāre; saltant ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltation¹

C17: from Latin saltātiō a dance, from saltāre to leap about

Example Sentences

As an adaptation to saltation the tibia would elongate at the expense of the femur and the index would be more than 100.

From Project Gutenberg

Long tail and long hind foot would seem to be specializations for saltation and the two would be expected to be correlated.

From Project Gutenberg

Life must be taken with a grain of saltation: let the spirit dance a measure or two ere it collapse.

From Project Gutenberg

Saltation is downwind movement of particles in a series of jumps or skips.

From Project Gutenberg

Particles are transported by winds through suspension, saltation, and creep.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bounce
• dive
• drop
• fall
• hurdle
• plunge
• rise
• upsurge
• vault