flection

1 9.9

A bending of a joint like a knee or elbow

noun
/ˈflɛkʃən/

Specialized

: flexión

The door's flection allowed it to close smoothly without jamming.

Examples

With careful flection, the artist was able to create a realistic sculpture.
My 'flection never talked back!

Rugrats Go Wild (2003)
You're just my 'flection!

Rugrats Go Wild (2003)
The gymnast practiced different types of flection to improve her performance.

Synonyms

bending

vsflection

10 2.1

A change that makes something curve from being straight

focuses on joints and objects being bent specifically

inflection

vsflection

4 6.8

A bend in a line or path that changes direction

is about physical bending of joints or objects rather than course deviation

flexion

vsflection

Specialized

3 7.7

The bending of a joint or the position when it is bent

is broader and covers bending of objects as well as joints

flexure

vsflection

Specialized

8.7

A bending of a joint such as the knee

is more general and applies to joints or other objects

deflexion

vsflection

9.7

Bending of a beam or other part so it is not straight

refers broadly to bending of objects or joints rather than directional deviation

How Bent

fold

84 2.4

flection

Specialized

1 9.9

curve

209 2.3

bend

77 1.2

straightness

1 1.0

Surface Forms

flection singular

flections plural

Morphology

flection = flex (semi-transparent) = flect + ion

The noun is formed by a standard nominalizing suffix '-ion' from the verb 'flex', but the orthographic alternation ('flect' vs 'flex') and the rarity of 'flection' make the relation less obvious to learners.

Etymology

Flection comes from the Latin root flect meaning 'to bend', and you can see the same root in the common words flex and flexible. So flection is the act or state of bending, especially of a joint.