[sal'te??(?)n, s?:-, s?-]
¦ noun
1. Biology abrupt evolutionary change; sudden large-scale mutation.
2. Geology the transport of hard particles over an uneven surface in a turbulent flow of air or water.
3. archaic the action of leaping or dancing.
Derivatives
saltatory 'salt?t(?)ri, 's?:-, 's?- adjective
Origin
C17 (in sense 3): from L. saltatio(n-), from saltare 'to dance', frequentative of salire 'to leap'.