declination: Meaning and Definition of

dec•li•na•tion

Pronunciation: (dek"lu-nā'shun), [key]
— n.
  1. a bending, sloping, or moving downward.
  2. deterioration; decline.
  3. a swerving or deviating, as from a standard.
  4. a polite refusal.
  5. the angular distance of a heavenly body from the celestial equator, measured on the great circle passing through the celestial pole and the body.
  6. variation (def. 8).
  7. the formal refusal by a nominee of a nomination to public office.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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