- a bending or sloping downward; deviation from the horizontal or vertical
- an oblique variation from some definite direction
- the angle formed by a magnetic needle with the line pointing to the geographical North Pole
- a polite declining or refusal
- Archaic decline; deterioration; decay
- Astron. the angular distance of a celestial body north or south from the celestial equator: it is used with right ascension to find an exact position in the sky: abbrev. Dec, dec
Origin of declinationMiddle English declinacioun from Classical Latin declinatio: see declension
- A sloping or bending downward.
- A falling off, especially from prosperity or vigor; a decline.
- A deviation, as from a specific direction or standard.
- A refusal to accept.
- See magnetic declination.
- Astronomy The angular distance to a point on a celestial object, measured north (in positive degrees) or south (in negative degrees) from the celestial equator.
Origin of declinationMiddle English declinacioun from Old French declination from Latin dēclīnātiō dēclīnātiōn- from dēclīnātus past participle of dēclīnāre to turn away ; see decline .
- At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.
- At a given point, the angle between the line connecting this point with the geographical center of the earth and the equatorial plane.
- A refusal.
- (grammar) Declension.
- (archaic) The act or state of bending downward; inclination.
- declination of the head
- (archaic) The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline.
- (archaic) Deviation.
From Middle English declinacioun, from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio.