indentation

indentation

English

Etymology

    From indent + -ation.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
      Rhymes: -eɪʃən

    Noun

    indentation (countable and uncountable, plural indentations)

    1. The act of indenting or state of being indented.
    2. A notch or recess, in the margin or border of anything.
      the indentations of a leaf
      indentations of the coast
    3. A recess or sharp depression in any surface.
    4. (typography) The act of beginning a line or series of lines at a little distance within the flush line of the column or page, as in the common way of beginning the first line of a paragraph.
      • 2007, Robert Richards, Pro PHP XML and Web Services, Apress, →ISBN, page 502:
        The resulting document does not contain the indentation and line breaks found in the original document.
    5. A measure of the distance from the flush line.
      an indentation of one em
    6. (law) A division unit of a piece of law distinguished by its indentation or by a dash.
      Synonym: indent
      • 2013, Jenny Papettas, The Law Applicable to Cross Border Road Traffic Accidents[1], Birmingham, page 204:
        The explanatory report acknowledges that the result of the rule under the second indentation can appear arbitrary.

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

    Translations

    French

    Etymology

    From Latin indentātiōnem, from indentō (indent).

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    indentation f (plural indentations)

    1. indentation

    Further reading