What is "synclinal"

Synclinal \Syn*cli"nal\, n. (Geol.) A synclinal fold.

Synclinal \Syn*cli"nal\, a. [Gr. ? to incline together; sy`n with + ? to incline.]

1. Inclined downward from opposite directions, so as to meet in a common point or line.

2. (Geol.) Formed by strata dipping toward a common line or plane; as, a synclinal trough or valley; a synclinal fold; -- opposed to anticlinal.

   Note: A downward flexure in the case of folded rocks makes a synclinal axis, and the alternating upward flexure an anticlinal axis.

"sloping downward on both sides," 1833 (in Lyell), from -al (1) + Latinized form of stem of Greek synklinein "to incline, lean," from syn- "together" (see syn-) + klinein "to slope" (see lean (v.)).

a. 1 (context chemistry English) Describing a torsion angle between 30° and 90° 2 Inclined downward from opposite directions, so as to meet in a common point or line. 3 (context geology English) Formed by stratum dipping toward a common line or plane. n. (context geology English) A synclinal fold.

adj. sloping downward toward each other to create a trough [ant: anticlinal]

Synclinal may refer to:

• Syncline, in structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger layers closer to the center of the structure.
• Synclinal, in alkane stereochemistry, a torsion angle between 30° to 90° and –30° to –90°