tendency in WordNet English dictionary

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"
   inclination  disposition  tendency 
   
2. 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"
   tendency  inclination 
   
3. an inclination to do something
   "he felt leanings toward frivolity"
   leaning  propensity  tendency 
   
4. a general direction in which something tends to move
   "the shoreward tendency of the current"; "the trend of the stock market"
   tendency  trend