Inclining

Inclining is the act of leaning, tilting, or bending. The term derives from the verb incline, which means to cause to lean or to be disposed toward something. As a noun, an incline is a slope or slanted surface. The present participle inclining describes the action in progress or a developing tendency.

In geometry and surveying, the inclination of a line or plane is the angle it forms with a reference direction, usually the horizontal plane or a primary axis. In a two-dimensional context, the slope is related to the tangent of the angle of incline. In three dimensions, inclination can refer to the tilt relative to a reference plane, often complemented by direction measures such as azimuth.

In physics and engineering, inclined planes are simple machines that reduce the effort required to raise a load by allowing the force to be applied over a greater distance. The component of gravity along the plane is proportional to the sine of the incline angle, while the perpendicular component relates to the cosine. Practical uses include ramps, slides, and conveyor systems. Friction and surface texture modify the actual effort needed.

In astronomy, orbital inclination describes the tilt of an object's orbit relative to a reference plane, such as the ecliptic. In linguistics and everyday language, to incline toward something means to be disposed toward it; the related adjectives and nouns describe a tendency, as in being inclined to agree or having an inclination.

Etymology traces incline to Latin inclinare, in- (toward) + clina (slope). See also incline plane, slope, tilt, inclination, and orbital inclination.