n.1 the act or an instance of varying.
2 departure from a former or normal condition, action, or amount, or from a standard or type (prices are subject to variation).
3 the extent of this.
4 a thing that varies from a type.
5 Mus. a repetition (usu. one of several) of a theme in a changed or elaborated form.
6 Astron. a deviation of a heavenly body from its mean orbit or motion.
7 Math. a change in a function etc. due to small changes in the values of constants etc.
8 Ballet a solo dance.
Derivatives:
variational adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF variation or L variatio (as VARY)