English Dictionary

DECLINATION

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does declination mean? 

DECLINATION (noun)
  The noun DECLINATION has 4 senses:

1. a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better stateplay

2. a downward slope or bendplay

3. (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphereplay

4. a polite refusal of an invitationplay

  Familiarity information: DECLINATION used as a noun is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


DECLINATION (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

declination; decline

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "declination"):

disuse; neglect (the state of something that has been unused and neglected)

twilight (a condition of decline following successes)

wreck (something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation)

Derivation:

decline (grow worse)


Sense 2

Meaning:

A downward slope or bend

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

declension; declination; decline; declivity; descent; downslope; fall

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

incline; side; slope (an elevated geological formation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "declination"):

downhill (the downward slope of a hill)

steep (a steep place (as on a hill))

Derivation:

decline (go down)


Sense 3

Meaning:

(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

celestial latitude; dec; declination

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

angular distance (the angular separation between two objects as perceived by an observer)

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)


Sense 4

Meaning:

A polite refusal of an invitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

declination; regrets

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

refusal (a message refusing to accept something that is offered)

Derivation:

decline (refuse to accept)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"The exception proves the rule." (English proverb)

"When there are too many carpenters, the door cannot be erected." (Bhutanese proverb)

"The earth is a beehive; we all enter by the same door but live in different cells." (African proverb)

"After rain comes sunshine" (Dutch proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact