DECLINATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does declination mean? 

• DECLINATION (noun)
  The noun DECLINATION has 4 senses:

1. a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

2. a downward slope or bend

3. (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere

4. a polite refusal of an invitation

  Familiarity information: DECLINATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECLINATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

declination; decline

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "declination"):

disuse; neglect (the state of something that has been unused and neglected)

twilight (a condition of decline following successes)

wreck (something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation)

Derivation:

decline (grow worse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A downward slope or bend

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

declension; declination; decline; declivity; descent; downslope; fall

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

incline; side; slope (an elevated geological formation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "declination"):

downhill (the downward slope of a hill)

steep (a steep place (as on a hill))

Derivation:

decline (go down)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

celestial latitude; dec; declination

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

angular distance (the angular separation between two objects as perceived by an observer)

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A polite refusal of an invitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

declination; regrets

Hypernyms ("declination" is a kind of...):

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

refusal (a message refusing to accept something that is offered)

Derivation:

decline (refuse to accept)