flexion
|flex-ion|
🇺🇸
/ˈflɛkʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˈflɛkʃ(ə)n/
bending; change in form
Etymology
'flexion' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'flexio, flexionis', where the root 'flectere' meant 'to bend'.
'flexion' changed from Late Latin 'flexio' into Old/Middle French and then entered Middle English as 'flexion', eventually becoming the modern English word 'flexion'.
Initially it meant 'a bending', and over time the sense was extended metaphorically to describe grammatical 'inflection' (change of word form) and structural bending in engineering contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action of bending a limb or joint; the state of being bent (anatomy/physiology).
Flexion of the elbow brings the hand closer to the shoulder.
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Noun 2
a change in the form of a word to express grammatical features such as case, number, or tense (linguistics) — i.e., inflection.
Flexion in languages like Latin marks case and number.
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Noun 3
the bending or curvature of an object or structure (general/engineering).
The beam showed noticeable flexion under the heavy load.
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Last updated: 2025/10/03 01:52