tendency

n 1: an attitude of mind especially one that favors one

alternative over others; "he had an inclination to give

up too easily"; "a tendency to be too strict" [syn: {inclination},

{disposition}]

2: an inclination to do something; "he felt leanings toward

frivolity" [syn: {leaning}, {propensity}]

3: a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward

a certain condition or character or effect: "the alkaline

inclination of the local waters"; "fabric with a tendency

to shrink" [syn: {inclination}]

4: a general direction in which something tends to move: "the

shoreward tendency of the current"; "the trend of the

stock market" [syn: {trend}]