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Glite Dictionary
indention

indention

1 5.3
A small blank space between the margin and the start of a line where the text begins
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈdɛnʃən/
  • US
translation icon : sangría
  • I have a 1965 or 1963 dime; however, the back of the dime is distorted due to an indention. The indention only affects the back; you can see the outline of the head on the back, and the vine is sorely distorted and almost looks stretched out. My dad received this from the bank years ago and put it away. It is dark in color. Does it have any value?

Examples

  • The shiny titanium is lead-streaked, and as I rub my thumb in the indention some bullet has made, I can still feel her body heat on it.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The indention at the start of each paragraph makes the document easier to read.

  • Right there, that indention?

    The Last Exorcism (2010)

  • The coin is not really clean but shows all the lettering on both sides except the "B" in liberty, which has the pressed indention through it, and the #6 in the date has it also through it.

    Blog text (9)

  • The crib's mattress lay on the floor, its length extended by three frilly pillows, the last bearing the indention of a head.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I have a 1965 or 1963 dime; however, the back of the dime is distorted due to an indention. The indention only affects the back; you can see the outline of the head on the back, and the vine is sorely distorted and almost looks stretched out. My dad received this from the bank years ago and put it away. It is dark in color. Does it have any value?

    Blog text (9)

  • In her essay, she used an indention to show that a new idea was beginning.

  • A proper indention helps distinguish quotes from the writer's own thoughts.

Synonyms

space
vsindention
76 1.0

A blank area between words when writing or typing

is the narrow gap at a line start not gaps between words or sentences
indentation
vsindention
4 3.4

Space left between the margin and the start of a line to show a new paragraph

is the same gap but not limited to paragraph starts
blank space
vsindention
3 1.6

An empty area for writing or filling in information

is specifically the left margin gap before a line moved inward not general emptiness
indent
vsindention
1 2.7

A blank space at the start of a line to show a new paragraph

is the resulting blank area rather than the action of making it
whitespace
vsindention
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Empty space around text or images that makes a page easier to read

is the narrow gap at a line start not a general layout empty area
indenture
vsindention
  • Archaic
7.5

The space at the start of a line that is moved in from the margin

is the same gap but expressed differently in wording of the description

Surface Forms

indention singular
indentions plural

Morphology

indention = indent (transparent) = indent + ion

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ion' to the verb 'indent', yielding the act/result 'the state or result of indenting', which is directly derived.

Etymology

Indention comes from indent, which is made of in- ('in') and dent ('tooth' or 'notch'), because people once cut tooth-like edges in paper so two parts would fit together. So an indention is the small blank 'notch' at the start of a line, like a tiny visual 'dent' that shows a new paragraph.