ˌdɪs.pəˈzɪ.ʃən ˌdɪs.pəˈzɪ.ʃɪn ɪn.klɪˈneɪ.ʃən ˈtɛndənsi the act of inclining; bending forward an inclination of his head indicated his agreement a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect the alkaline inclination of the local waters fabric with a tendency to shrink the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical the tower had a pronounced tilt the ship developed a list to starboard he walked with a heavy inclination to the right an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others he had an inclination to give up too easily a tendency to be too strict that toward which you are inclined to feel a liking her inclination is for classical music (geometry) the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line (measured counterclockwise from the positive half of the x-axis) (astronomy) the angle between the plane of the orbit and the plane of the ecliptic stated in degrees (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon