VARIATION


Meaning of VARIATION in English

— variational, variative /vair"ee ay'tiv/ , adj. — variationally, variatively , adv.

/vair'ee ay"sheuhn/ , n.

1. the act, process, or accident of varying in condition, character, or degree: Prices are subject to variation.

2. an instance of this: There is a variation in the quality of fabrics in this shipment.

3. amount, rate, extent, or degree of change: a temperature variation of 40° in a particular climate.

4. a different form of something; variant.

5. Music.

a. the transformation of a melody or theme with changes or elaborations in harmony, rhythm, and melody.

b. a varied form of a melody or theme, esp. one of a series of such forms developing the capacities of the subject.

6. Ballet. a solo dance, esp. one forming a section of a pas de deux.

7. Astron. any deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly body, esp. of a planetary or satellite orbit.

8. Also called magnetic declination, magnetic variation . Navig. the angle between the geographic and the magnetic meridian at a given point, expressed in plus degrees east or minus degrees west of true north. Cf. deviation (def. 4).

9. Biol. a difference or deviation in structure or character from others of the same species or group.

[ 1350-1400; variation- (s. of variatio ), equiv. to variat ( us ) (see VARIATE) + -ion- -ION; r. ME variacioun ]

Syn. 1. mutation, alteration, modification; deviation, divergence, difference.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .