saltation
pronunciation
How to pronounce saltation in British English:
UK [sæl'teɪʃən]
How to pronounce saltation in American English:
US [sæl'teɪʃən]
-
- Noun:
- (geology) the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven surface
- a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an organism or species
- an abrupt transition
- taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
- a light springing movement upwards or forwards
Word Origin
- saltation (n.)
- "a leap, a bound," 1620s, from Latin saltationem (nominative saltatio) "a dancing; dance," noun of action from past participle stem of saltare "to hop, dance," frequentative of salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)).
Example
- 1. Destabilized saltation of a dished medal diaphragm and their application in passenger cars .
- 2. Many years later the geneticist richard goldschmidt put the case forward as an example of evolution by saltation , bypassing intermediate forms .