cline
A gradation in a character or phenotype within a species, deme, or other systematic groupA gradation in a character or phenotype within a species, deme, or other systematic group.
» As one moves further south they enter a different cline.
Meaning
3 sensesA gradation in a character or phenotype within a species, deme, or other systematic group.
Any graduated continuum.
A generalized circle.
- American geneticist who succeeded in transferring a functioning gene from one mouse to another (born in 1934)
Examples
2 sentencesAs one moves further south they enter a different cline.
There is a gradual cline of decreasing size to the northward.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From Ancient Greek κλῑ́νω (klī́nō, “to lean, incline”). Introduced by English evolutionaryFrom Ancient Greek κλῑ́νω (klī́nō, “to lean, incline”). Introduced by English evolutionary biologist and eugenicist Julian Huxley in 1938 after British mycologist John Ramsbottom suggested the term.
From c(ircle) + line; compare circline.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: clinesSynonyms
3 synonyms- American geneticist who succeeded in transferring a functioning gene from one mouse to another (born in 1934):Martin Cline