Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Variation
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
. Locke.
2.
Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.
3.
(Gram.)
Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.
4.
(Mus.)
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
(Astron.)
, 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
(Astron.)
, 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
.
Syn. – Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.
Webster 1828 Edition
Variation
VARIA'TION
,Noun.
1.
Alteration; a partial change in the form, position, state or qualities of the same thing; as a variation of color in different lights; a variation in the size of a plant from day to day; the unceasing, though slow variation of language; a variation in a soil from year to year. Our opinions are subject to continual variations.The essences of things are conceived not capable of such variation.
2.
Difference; change from one to another.In some other places are born more females than males; which, upon this variation of proportion, I recommend to the curious.
3.
In grammar, change of termination of nouns and adjectives, constituting what is called case, number and gender; as the variation of words.4.
Deviation; as a variation of a transcript from the original.5.
In astronomy, the variation of the moon is the third inequality in her motion; by which, when out of the quadratures, her true place differs from her place twice equated.6.
In geography and navigation, the deviation of the magnetic needle from the true north point; called also declination.The variation of the needle at New Haven, in 1820, as ascertained from the mean of numerous observations made by Professor Fisher, was 4 degrees 25.42' west.
7.
In music, the different manner of singing or playing the same air or tune, by subdividing the notes into several others of less value, or by adding graces, yet so that the tune itself may be discovered through all its embellishments.Definition 2024
Variation
variation
variation
See also: Variation
English
Noun
variation (usually uncountable, plural variations)
- The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing
- 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
- Plant breeding is always a numbers game. […] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.
-
- A related but distinct thing.
- when the process didn't work, we tried a variation; all of his songs are variations on a single theme
- (nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination.
- (board games) A line of play that differs from the original.
- (music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground bass.
- (genetics) The modification of a hereditary trait.
Derived terms
- magnetic variation
- theme and variations
Related terms
Translations
the act or state of varying
|
|
difference between true and magnetic (compass) north
(board games) a line of play that differs from the original
a musical technique based on an altered repetition of a theme
References
- US FM 55-501 MARINE CREWMAN’S HANDBOOK; 1 December 1999
- variation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- variation in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Swedish
Etymology
Noun
variation c
Declension
| Inflection of variation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | |||
| Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
| Nominative | variation | variationen | variationer | variationerna |
| Genitive | variations | variationens | variationers | variationernas |