incline
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.
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.
an inclined surface; slope; slant.
Railroads.
Also called inclined plane, incline 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.
Idioms about incline
incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably: to incline one's ear to another's plea.
Origin of incline
1Other words for incline
Other words from incline
- in·clin·er, noun
- o·ver·in·cline, verb, o·ver·in·clined, o·ver·in·clin·ing.
- re·in·cline, verb, re·in·clined, re·in·clin·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for incline
to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
(when tr, 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 ear to listen favourably (to)
Origin of incline
1Derived forms of incline
- incliner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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