cline

¹

[klahyn]

noun

1. Biology.,  the gradual change in certain characteristics exhibited by members of a series of adjacent populations of organisms of the same species.

2. Linguistics.,  (in systemic linguistics) a scale of continuous gradation; continuum.

Cline

²

[klahyn]

noun

1. Patsy Virginia Patterson Hensley, 1932–63, U.S. country singer.

-cline

¹

combining form

1. indicating a slope

   anticline

cline

²

/ klaɪn /

noun

1. a continuous variation in form between members of a species having a wide variable geographical or ecological range

Cline

³

/ klaɪn /

noun

1. Patsy , original name Virginia Patterson Hensley . 1932–63, US country singer; her bestselling records include "Walking After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", and "Leavin' On Your Mind"

cline

1. A gradual change in an inherited characteristic across the geographic range of a species, usually correlated with an environmental transition such as altitude, temperature, or moisture. For example, the body size in a species of warm-blooded animals tends to be larger in cooler climates (a latitudinal cline), while the flowering time of a plant may tend to be later at higher altitudes (an altitudinal cline). In species in which the gene flow between adjacent populations is high, the cline is typically smooth, whereas in populations with restricted gene flow the cline usually occurs as a series of relatively abrupt changes from one group to the next.

Other Word Forms

• -clinal combining form
• clinal adjective
• clinally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of -cline¹

1935–40; < Greek klī́nein to lean ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of -cline¹

back formation from _incline

Origin of -cline²

C20: from Greek klinein to lean

Example Sentences

She’s a walking cupcake — in this genre, a disposable-seeming treat — yet the way Madelyn Cline plays her is fabulous.

From Los Angeles Times

The comedian — whose high-profile exes include Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Madelyn Cline, Kate Beckinsale, Margaret Qualley, Kaia Gerber and Phoebe Dynevor — has a few projects lined up this year, including a starring role in the horror movie “The Home,” out July 25.

From Los Angeles Times

Cinematographer Bianca Cline took over as director of photography when production resumed in Montana about 18 months after Hutchins’ death.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents living south of Limonite Avenue between Van Buren Boulevard and Beach Street are warned to shelter in place and prepare for potential evacuation, said Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a spokesperson for the county Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times

Cline De La Rosa said this is the general address used to report fires in the riverbed but does not mean they are in the exact same location.

From Los Angeles Times