saltation noun. [sal'teɪʃ(ǝ)n, sɔ:-, sɒ-] E17.
[Latin saltatio(n-), formed as SALTATE: see -ATION.]
1. a. Dancing; a dance. E17.
b. Leaping, jumping; a leap, a jump. M17.
c. fig. An abrupt transition, a saltus. M19.

2. Biology. A sudden large-scale mutation; an abrupt evolutionary change. L19.

3. Physical Geography. A mode of transport of hard particles over an uneven surface in a turbulent flow of air, water, etc., in which they are lifted sharply up and accelerated forward by the flow, then fall back. E20.

■ saltational adjective of, pertaining to, or occurring by means of saltation M20.

■ saltationism noun (Biology) the theory that new species arise suddenly as a result of major mutations L20.

■ saltationist adjective & noun (Biology) of or pertaining to, an advocate of, saltationism M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲