variation
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (11)variations
- an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of changeSynonyms: fluctuationType of change, alterationKinds deviation, substitution, diurnal variation, tide, daily variation, allomerism, business cycle, vicissitude
- an activity that varies from a norm or standard“any variation in his routine was immediately reported”Synonyms: varianceType of activity
- a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellishedType of theme, melodic themeKinds partita, inversion
- something a little different from others of the same type“an experimental version of the night fighter”“a variant of the same word”“an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone”“the boy is a younger edition of his father”Synonyms: versionvarianteditionType of type
- an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard“he patented a variation on the sandal”Type of thingKinds bastard, mongrel
- the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true northSynonyms: magnetic declinationmagnetic variationType of angle
- the process of varying or being varied
- (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)
- (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alterationSynonyms: mutantmutationsport
- (ballet) a solo dance or dance figureSynonyms: pas seul
- the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard“who is responsible for these variations in taxation?”
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun the act or state of varying
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. variatioun, F. variation, L. variatio. See Vary.
1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alteration; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language.
The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation.— John Locke
2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.
3. Grammar Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.
4. Music Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity.
5. Alg. One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together.
Annual variation Astronomy, the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. — Calculus of variations. See under Calculus. — Variation compass. See under Compass. — Variation of the moon Astronomy, an inequality of the moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. — Variation of the needle Geog. & Naut., the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; — called also declination of the needle.
Synonyms: Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54