Definition of "declination" in English

noun

1. At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.

2. At a given point, the angle between the line connecting this point with the geographical center of the earth and the equatorial plane.

3. A refusal.

4. (linguistics, prosody) The gradual decline in the overall fundamental frequency or pitch of speech over the course of an utterance, independent of local variations such as tones and pitch accents.

5. (grammar, obsolete) Declension.

6. (archaic) The act or state of bending downward; inclination.

   • declination of the head

7. (archaic) The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline.

8. (archaic) Deviation.

   • November 2, 1690, Robert South, Sinners Inexcusable from Natural Religion Only every violation of and declination from the rules