Definition of "synclinal" [syn•cli•nal]

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

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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