declination

[ dek-luh-ney-shuh n ]
/ ˌdɛk ləˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

Origin of declination

1350–1400; Middle English declinacioun < Old French declinacion < Latin dēclīnātiōn- (stem of dēclīnātiō), equivalent to dēclīnāt(us), literally, turned aside (past participle of dēclīnāre; see decline, -ate1) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM declination

dec·li·na·tion·al, adjective pre·dec·li·na·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for declination

British Dictionary definitions for declination

declination
/ (ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən) /

noun

astronomy the angular distance, esp in degrees, of a star, planet, etc, from the celestial equator measured north (positive) or south (negative) along the great circle passing through the celestial poles and the body Symbol: δ Compare: right ascension
a refusal, esp a courteous or formal one

Derived forms of declination

declinational, adjective

Medical definitions for declination

declination
[ dĕk′lə-nāshən ]

n.

A bending, sloping, or other deviation from a normal vertical position.
A deviation of the vertical meridian of the eye to one or the other side due to rotation of the eyeball about its anteroposterior axis.

Scientific definitions for declination

declination
[ dĕk′lə-nāshən ]

On the celestial sphere, the position of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator. Declination is measured in degrees along a great circle drawn through the object being measured and the north and south celestial poles, with positive values north of the celestial equator and negative values south of it, so that the equator itself is 0° and the north and south celestial poles are +90° and -90° declination respectively. See more at equatorial coordinate system.
See magnetic declination.