[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/inflection/)

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# inflection

noun (an inflection, inflections; UK also inflexion)

«inflection» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (grammar) A change in the form of a word, usually its ending, to show tense, number, person and so on: «-s», «-ed», «-ing», «-er», «-est». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#m1)
2. The rise and fall of the voice when speaking: the inflection of a question. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#m2)
3. (maths) A point of inflection is where a curve changes the way it bends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#m3)

### In the lessons

In grammar lessons, inflections are word endings that change meaning in grammar: walk → walks, walked, walking. In speaking and drama lessons, voice inflection shows feelings and questions. In higher maths, a curve's inflection point is where it switches from curving one way to the other. Phrases: verb inflection, voice inflection, point of inflection.

### Examples

- The «-ed» inflection shows that an action happened in the past. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x1)
- Add the plural inflection «-s» to «dog» to get «dogs». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x2)
- Her voice had a rising inflection, so I knew it was a question. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x3)
- Read your poem with more inflection so it isn't boring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x4)
- English has fewer inflections than Latin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x5)
- The curve has a point of inflection in the middle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/#x6)

### Note

Countable: an inflection, many inflections. Spelling: «inflection» is usual; «inflexion» is an older UK spelling. Irregular forms like «ran» or «mice» are also inflected forms, but made without a regular ending.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «inflection» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inflection/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«inflection» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/inflection.html) on Mova free.