saltational

noun

1. a dancing, hopping, or leaping movement.
2. an abrupt movement or transition.
3. Geology. intermittent, leaping movement of particles of sand or gravel, as from the force of wind or running water.
4. Biology.
   1. a sudden discontinuity in a line of descent.
   2. a mutation.

noun

1. biology an abrupt variation in the appearance of an organism, species, etc, usually caused by genetic mutation
2. geology the leaping movement of sand or soil particles carried in water or by the wind
3. a sudden abrupt movement or transition

n.“a leap, a bound,” 1620s, from Latin saltationem (nominative saltatio) “a dancing; dance,” noun of action from past participle stem of saltare “to hop, dance,” frequentative of salire “to leap” (see salient (adj.)). n.

1. The act of leaping, jumping, or dancing.
2. Discontinuous movement, transition, or development; advancement by leaps as of a disease or physiologic function.
3. A single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.

1. A single mutation that drastically alters the phenotype.