saltation
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sal·ta·tion
(săl-tā′shən, sôl-)n.
1. The act of leaping, jumping, or dancing.
2. Discontinuous movement, transition, or development; advancement by leaps.
3. Genetics A single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.
[Latin saltātiō, saltātiōn, from saltātus, past participle of saltāre, to leap, frequentative of salīre, to jump; see salient.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
saltation
(sælˈteɪʃən)n
1. (Biology) biology an abrupt variation in the appearance of an organism, species, etc, usually caused by genetic mutation
2. (Geological Science) geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles carried in water or by the wind
3. a sudden abrupt movement or transition
[C17: from Latin saltātiō a dance, from saltāre to leap about]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sal•ta•tion
(sælˈteɪ ʃən)n.
1. a dancing or leaping movement.
2. an abrupt movement or transition.
3. Biol.
a. a sudden discontinuity in a line of descent.
b. a mutation.
[1640–50; < Latin saltātiō dancing =saltā(re) to jump about, dance, frequentative of salire to jump + -tiō -tion]
sal•ta′tion•al, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. | saltation - (geology) the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven surface geology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" |
| 2. | saltation - (genetics) a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an organism or species genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms chromosomal mutation, genetic mutation, mutation - (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism | |
| 3. | saltation - an abrupt transition; "a successful leap from college to the major leagues" transition - a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another quantum jump - (physics) an abrupt transition of an electron or atom or molecule from one quantum state to another with the emission or absorption of a quantum | |
| 4. |  saltation - taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to musicsidestep - a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing) diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation" adagio - a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers break dance, break dancing - a form of solo dancing that involves rapid acrobatic moves in which different parts of the body touch the ground; normally performed to the rhythm of rap music courante - a court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreats nauch, nautch, nautch dance - an intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls phrase - dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence saraband - a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow time skank - a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees slam dance, slam dancing - a form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rock hoofing, step dancing - dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures toe dance, toe dancing - a dance performed on tiptoe choreography, stage dancing - a show involving artistic dancing pas de deux, duet - (ballet) a dance for two people (usually a ballerina and a danseur noble) pas de trois - (ballet) a dance for three people pas de quatre - (ballet) a dance for four people social dancing - dancing as part of a social occasion mambo - a Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba tap - a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing) performing arts - arts or skills that require public performance busker - a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money jive - dance to jive music; dance the jive trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio" clog - dance a clog dance tap dance - perform a tap dance belly dance - perform a belly dance heel - perform with the heels; "heel that dance" shimmy - dance a shimmy | |
| 5. |  saltation - a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwardsjumping, jump - the act of jumping; propelling yourself off the ground; "he advanced in a series of jumps"; "the jumping was unexpected" pounce - the act of pouncing |
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