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Glite Dictionary
saltatory

saltatory

9.9
Happening in sudden jumps instead of slowly
  • adjective
  • /sælˈteɪtəri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : saltatorio
  • The saltatory nature of the conversation made it lively and engaging.

Examples

  • The frog's saltatory movement allowed it to cross the field quickly.

  • OK, that jumping from node to node is called saltatory conduction.

  • So you can search under myelin and you can look for saltatory conduction.

  • Acquired inheritance systems governed by extranucleic mechanisms also suggest possible examples of saltatory evolutionary events.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Children often exhibit saltatory behavior when they are excited and full of energy.

Synonyms

jerky
vssaltatory
48 4.3

Moving in sudden, uneven ways that are not smooth

happens as distinct jumps rather than uneven short motions
abrupt
vssaltatory
5 4.7

A very steep slope or drop that is often dangerous

is about sudden leaping movements rather than one steep decline
sharp
vssaltatory
3.2

Suddenly and quickly in a new direction

occurs as separate leaps rather than a single sudden change

Antonyms

smooth
204 1.0

Moving or happening in an even, easy way without sudden problems

gradual
75 3.0

Happening slowly and steadily, not suddenly

How Sudden

instantaneous
35 5.1
abrupt
37 4.6
sudden
614 1.0
saltatory
  • Specialized
9.9
intermittent
35 6.5

Surface Forms

saltatory positive

Morphology

saltatory = saltation (opaque) = saltat + ory

The adjectival formation from 'saltation' via the suffix '-ory' is a regular morphological process, but 'saltation' and the combining form 'saltat-' are low-frequency and specialized.

Etymology

Saltatory comes from the Latin verb saltare, which means 'to jump', and you can see the same idea in somersault, a big jump and turn. So saltatory describes movement that happens in sudden jumps or leaps rather than slowly or smoothly.