[ ˌi:və'lu:ʃ(ə)n , 'ɛv- ]
■ noun
1》 the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms, especially by natural selection.
2》 gradual development.
3》 Chemistry the giving off of a gaseous product, or of heat.
4》 a pattern of movements or manoeuvres.
5》 Mathematics, dated the extraction of a root from a given quantity.
Derivatives
~al adjective
~ally adverb
~arily adverb
~ary adjective
evolutive adjective
Origin
C17: from L. evolutio(n-) 'unrolling', from evolvere (see evolve ).