Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Sloping downward from opposite directions to meet in a common point or line.
  • adjective Geology Relating to, formed by, or forming a syncline.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Sloping downward in opposite directions so as to meet in a common point or line.
  • In geology, dipping, as strata in any particular district or locality, toward one another on each side of the axis of the fold: the opposite of anticlinal. Compare cut under axis, 9.
  • noun A synclinal fold, line, or axis.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Geol.) A synclinal fold.
  • adjective Inclined downward from opposite directions, so as to meet in a common point or line.
  • adjective (Geol.) Formed by strata dipping toward a common line or plane

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective chemistry Describing a torsion angle between 30° and 90°

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective sloping downward toward each other to create a trough

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In addition to this technical difficulty, it was found that the Devonian synclinal, which is the geologic substructure of the region was disturbed by a tectonic anomaly in the form of a narrow band, less than one kilometer in width, which had become deflected in front of the Longlier valley, passing just under the terminal point where the construction of the railroad had stopped.

    Albert Claude - Autobiography 1975

  • The four great luminous sheaves forming the corners of the square are made up of rays curving together from each side into "synclinal" or ogival groups, each of which may be compared to the petal of a flower.

    A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century Fourth Edition 1874

  • The Uinta Basin Floor ecoregion lies in a large synclinal basin that is enclosed by the Uinta Mountains and Tavaputs Plateau.

    Ecoregions of Utah (EPA) 2009

  • The principal Formation is orientated in an east-west direction, and comprises both a long anticlinal and synclinal, the latter elevated over some degrees.

    Miguasha Provincial Park, Canada 2008

  • Occurring primarily in Utah, the Uinta Basin Floor ecoregion lies in a large synclinal basin enclosed by the Uinta Mountains and Tavaputs Plateau.

    Ecoregions of Colorado (EPA) 2008

  • Ecoregion 37 is a synclinal and alluvial valley lying between the Ozark Highlands (39) and the Ouachita Mountains (36).

    Ecoregions of Arkansas (EPA) 2008

  • The ridge trended north-west, as most others did in this extensive basin; and this direction being nearly parallel to that of the coast ranges further northward, seemed to afford additional reason for expecting to find anticlinal and synclinal lines, and, consequently, rivers, much in the same direction.

    Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia 2003

  • I returned from the hill but little wiser than I went, except that I had observed the strata dipping southward, and that we might, therefore, still look for their synclinal line to the northward; and beyond that, for the heads of other rivers.

    Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia 2003

  • The strata at this bridge dipped N.N. E., a circumstance which induced me to travel westward instead of N. W., in hopes to cross thereby sooner, a synclinal line, and so arrive at the sources of some northern river.

    Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia 2003

  • Concrete roofing tile is a flat or synclinal covering element with or without grooves.

    1. Technical requirements for Asbestos substitutes 1996

Comments

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  • "The canal is an interloper in what was once a landscape of private parks, perched on a synclinal basin of chalk strata."

    London Orbital by Iain Sinclair, p 182 of the Penguin paperback edition

    January 31, 2012

  • What a sin! What a salvation! Chalk one up (down?)

    January 31, 2012