Inflection
noun
A change in the form of a word that shows a change in tense, number, etc.
In the sentence, 'I wrote a book', 'wrote' is an inflection of 'write'.
Often appears as...
- grammatical inflection
- inflection point
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice.
Her inflection showed that she was really upset.
Often appears as...
- rising inflection
- falling inflection
noun
In mathematics, a point on a curve where it changes from being concave up to concave down or vice versa.
The graph of the function has its inflection point at (0,0).
Often appears as...
- inflection point
- point of inflection
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A change in the form of a word that shows a change in tense, number, etc.
In the sentence, 'I wrote a book', 'wrote' is an inflection of 'write'.
Often appears as...
- grammatical inflection
- inflection point
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice.
Her inflection showed that she was really upset.
Often appears as...
- rising inflection
- falling inflection
noun
In mathematics, a point on a curve where it changes from being concave up to concave down or vice versa.
The graph of the function has its inflection point at (0,0).
Often appears as...
- inflection point
- point of inflection
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Word Variety
Understanding inflections helps you express actions in past, present, or future.
'Speak' inflects to 'spoke' for past and 'will speak' for future.
Pro Tip 2/3Spelling Patterns
Some inflections follow regular patterns, making them easier to learn.
Adding 'ed' for past tense, as in 'jump' becoming 'jumped'.
Pro Tip 3/3Odd Exceptions
Watch out for irregular inflections that don't follow normal rules.
'Go' inflects to 'went', not 'goed'.
Pro Tip 1/3Word Variety
Understanding inflections helps you express actions in past, present, or future.
'Speak' inflects to 'spoke' for past and 'will speak' for future.
Pro Tip 2/3Spelling Patterns
Some inflections follow regular patterns, making them easier to learn.
Adding 'ed' for past tense, as in 'jump' becoming 'jumped'.
Pro Tip 3/3Odd Exceptions
Watch out for irregular inflections that don't follow normal rules.
'Go' inflects to 'went', not 'goed'.
Pro Tip 1/3Word Variety
Understanding inflections helps you express actions in past, present, or future.
'Speak' inflects to 'spoke' for past and 'will speak' for future.
Pro Tip 2/3Spelling Patterns
Some inflections follow regular patterns, making them easier to learn.
Adding 'ed' for past tense, as in 'jump' becoming 'jumped'.
Pro Tip 3/3Odd Exceptions
Watch out for irregular inflections that don't follow normal rules.
'Go' inflects to 'went', not 'goed'.
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Video examples
What is Technological...
describe what happens when you go through a black hole center of a black hole the singularity the laws of physics as we know them kind of collapse or implode they no longer apply a great metaphor that we borrow to use to describe what can happen with technology we're going to hit this inflection point the singularity where it's going to be
Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
and was able to infer its own rules and then beat the world's residing Go champion. That is exciting, because it relieves the software engineer of the need of being super smart, and pushes the burden towards the data. As I said, the inflection point where this has become really possible --
Video examples
3 clues to understanding...
mimics the visual inflection, sudden inflection of that jagged shape. Now, this is very important, because what it's telling you is your brain is engaging in a primitive -- it's just -- it looks like a silly illusion, but these photons in your eye are doing this shape,
Video examples
Josh Giegel: Super...
This is the start of a systemic change in the way we travel. Simply put, society has moved forward, as we've moved faster. The railroad ushered in the industrial revolution, the airplane forever changed the way we move. But today, we’re at an inflection point.
Video examples
Why you should define...
And he replied with two pages of text. This is very unlike him. He is a terse dude. And not only was he familiar with stoicism, but he pointed out, for all of his most important decisions, his inflection points, when he stood up for his principles and ethics,
Video examples
The Year in Ideas: TED...
I've learned about the poetry and the wisdom and the grace that can be found in the words of people all around us when we simply take the time to listen you might have noticed that I don't have much inflection in my voice that's why
Video examples
A lesson in classical...
might say that it's more reverberant there's more sonority it's a more full sound there's tone there's pulse there's inflection it's as if the composer wanted the notes to be in the air for a specific amount of time I'm going to
Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
There are several types of aphasia grouped into two fluent, or receptive, aphasia and non-fluent, or expressive, aphasia. People with fluent aphasia may have normal vocal inflection but use words that lack meaning.
Video examples
What to trust in a...
And data is not evidence -- it may not be supportive if it's consistent with rival theories. So, what do you do? When you're at the inflection points of life, deciding on a strategy for your business,
Video examples
Learning to Speak Turkey...
interestingly I learned that within each one of those calls there are inflections that have very
Video examples
What is Technological...
describe what happens when you go through a black hole center of a black hole the singularity the laws of physics as we know them kind of collapse or implode they no longer apply a great metaphor that we borrow to use to describe what can happen with technology we're going to hit this inflection point the singularity where it's going to be
Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
and was able to infer its own rules and then beat the world's residing Go champion. That is exciting, because it relieves the software engineer of the need of being super smart, and pushes the burden towards the data. As I said, the inflection point where this has become really possible --
Video examples
3 clues to understanding...
mimics the visual inflection, sudden inflection of that jagged shape. Now, this is very important, because what it's telling you is your brain is engaging in a primitive -- it's just -- it looks like a silly illusion, but these photons in your eye are doing this shape,
Video examples
Josh Giegel: Super...
This is the start of a systemic change in the way we travel. Simply put, society has moved forward, as we've moved faster. The railroad ushered in the industrial revolution, the airplane forever changed the way we move. But today, we’re at an inflection point.
Video examples
Why you should define...
And he replied with two pages of text. This is very unlike him. He is a terse dude. And not only was he familiar with stoicism, but he pointed out, for all of his most important decisions, his inflection points, when he stood up for his principles and ethics,
Video examples
The Year in Ideas: TED...
I've learned about the poetry and the wisdom and the grace that can be found in the words of people all around us when we simply take the time to listen you might have noticed that I don't have much inflection in my voice that's why
Video examples
A lesson in classical...
might say that it's more reverberant there's more sonority it's a more full sound there's tone there's pulse there's inflection it's as if the composer wanted the notes to be in the air for a specific amount of time I'm going to
Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
There are several types of aphasia grouped into two fluent, or receptive, aphasia and non-fluent, or expressive, aphasia. People with fluent aphasia may have normal vocal inflection but use words that lack meaning.
Video examples
What to trust in a...
And data is not evidence -- it may not be supportive if it's consistent with rival theories. So, what do you do? When you're at the inflection points of life, deciding on a strategy for your business,
Video examples
Learning to Speak Turkey...
interestingly I learned that within each one of those calls there are inflections that have very
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Betsy DeVos
American Public Servant
When we had segregated schools and when we had a time when, you know, girls weren't allowed to have the same kind of sports teams - I mean, there have been important inflection points for the federal government to get involved in some of the areas around protecting students and ensuring safe environments for them - there is a role to play.
Quote examples
Robert Rankin
British Novelist
I always had a problem when I did the audio books myself because they weren't made to have me doing all the voices. And to hear established actors, and you think, 'Wow, that sounds like it's supposed to sound,' is great. They've got the right inflections, which is an enormous skill.
Quote examples
Gene Weingarten
American Journalist
When you are interviewing someone, don't just write down what he says. Ask yourself: Does this guy remind you of someone? What does the room feel like? Notice smells, voice inflection, neighborhoods you pass through. Be a cinematographer.
Quote examples
Shervin Pishevar
Iranian Businessman
Uber was probably the perfect inflection point of a world that is changing so fast in terms of consumers that are... pushing that button and using the mobile phone as the remote control for their life.
Quote examples
Noel Gallagher
English Musician
I've got my own style on the guitar, sure, and I play rhythm in a certain way, and I use certain inflections. People have said that to me, and I understand it.
Quote examples
Jonathan Krohn
American Author
I have good voice inflection, that's why I'm good on radio. But on TV, I look too big because I move my hands around a lot.
Quote examples
Steve Vai
American Musician
It's very hard to come across as a passionate human being in print. People can't hear the inflections in your voice.
Quote examples
Bela Lugosi
Austrian Actor
In the studio the director controls the actor's every move, every inflection, every expression.
Quote examples
Willie Nelson
American Musician
You could make any song sound creepy if you wanted. It's all about the inflection.
Quote examples
Oscar Isaac
Guatemalan Actor
In the 1960s, there was a forward way of speaking and inflection.
Quote examples
Betsy DeVos
American Public Servant
When we had segregated schools and when we had a time when, you know, girls weren't allowed to have the same kind of sports teams - I mean, there have been important inflection points for the federal government to get involved in some of the areas around protecting students and ensuring safe environments for them - there is a role to play.
Quote examples
Robert Rankin
British Novelist
I always had a problem when I did the audio books myself because they weren't made to have me doing all the voices. And to hear established actors, and you think, 'Wow, that sounds like it's supposed to sound,' is great. They've got the right inflections, which is an enormous skill.
Quote examples
Gene Weingarten
American Journalist
When you are interviewing someone, don't just write down what he says. Ask yourself: Does this guy remind you of someone? What does the room feel like? Notice smells, voice inflection, neighborhoods you pass through. Be a cinematographer.
Quote examples
Shervin Pishevar
Iranian Businessman
Uber was probably the perfect inflection point of a world that is changing so fast in terms of consumers that are... pushing that button and using the mobile phone as the remote control for their life.
Quote examples
Noel Gallagher
English Musician
I've got my own style on the guitar, sure, and I play rhythm in a certain way, and I use certain inflections. People have said that to me, and I understand it.
Quote examples
Jonathan Krohn
American Author
I have good voice inflection, that's why I'm good on radio. But on TV, I look too big because I move my hands around a lot.
Quote examples
Steve Vai
American Musician
It's very hard to come across as a passionate human being in print. People can't hear the inflections in your voice.
Quote examples
Bela Lugosi
Austrian Actor
In the studio the director controls the actor's every move, every inflection, every expression.
Quote examples
Willie Nelson
American Musician
You could make any song sound creepy if you wanted. It's all about the inflection.
Quote examples
Oscar Isaac
Guatemalan Actor
In the 1960s, there was a forward way of speaking and inflection.
Example 1 of 10
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