n. & v.
--n.
1. succession, coming after or next.
2 order of succession (shall follow the sequence of events; give the facts in historical sequence).
3 a set of things belonging next to one another on some principle of order; a series without gaps.
4 a part of a film dealing with one scene or topic.
5 a set of poems on one theme.
6 a set of three or more playing-cards next to one another in value.
7 Mus. repetition of a phrase or melody at a higher or lower pitch.
8 Eccl. a hymn said or sung after the Gradual or Alleluia that precedes the Gospel.
9 succession without implication of causality (opp. CONSEQUENCE).
--v.tr.
1. arrange in a definite order.
2 Biochem. ascertain the sequence of monomers in (esp. a polypeptide or nucleic acid).
Phrases and idioms:
sequence of tenses Gram. the dependence of the tense of a subordinate verb on the tense of the principal verb, according to certain rules (e.g. I think you are, thought you were, wrong).
Derivatives:
sequencer n.
Etymology: ME f. LL sequentia f. L sequens pres. part. of sequi follow