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variation
(redirected from Variation (biology))

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
var·i·a·tion  (vâr-shn, vr-)
n.
1.
a. The act, process, or result of varying.
b. The state or fact of being varied. See Synonyms at difference.
2. The extent or degree to which something varies: a variation of ten pounds in weight.
3. Magnetic declination.
4. Something slightly different from another of the same type.
5. Biology
a. Marked difference or deviation from the normal or recognized form, function, or structure.
b. An organism or plant exhibiting such difference or deviation.
6. Mathematics A function that relates the values of one variable to those of other variables.
7. Music
a. A form that is an altered version of a given theme, diverging from it by melodic ornamentation and by changes in harmony, rhythm, or key.
b. One of a series of forms based on a single theme.
8. A solo dance, especially one forming part of a larger work.

vari·ation·al adj.

variation [ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən]
n
1. the act, process, condition, or result of changing or varying; diversity
2. an instance of varying or the amount, rate, or degree of such change
3. something that differs from a standard or convention
4. (Music, other) Music
a.  a repetition of a musical theme in which the rhythm, harmony, or melody is altered or embellished
b.  (as modifier) variation form
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology
a.  a marked deviation from the typical form or function
b.  a characteristic or an organism showing this deviation
6. (Astronomy) Astronomy any change in or deviation from the mean motion or orbit of a planet, satellite, etc., esp a perturbation of the moon
7. (Mathematics & Measurements / Navigation) another word for magnetic declination
8. (Performing Arts / Ballet) Ballet a solo dance
9. (Linguistics) Linguistics any form of morphophonemic change, such as one involved in inflection, conjugation, or vowel mutation
variational  adj
variationally  adv

The angular difference between true and magnetic north. See also deviation.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.variation - an instance of changevariation - an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change
alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"
vicissitude - a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something; "the project was subject to the usual vicissitudes of exploratory research"
allomerism - (chemistry) variability in chemical composition without variation in crystalline form
deviation, difference, divergence, departure - a variation that deviates from the standard or norm; "the deviation from the mean"
permutation, substitution, switch, transposition, replacement - an event in which one thing is substituted for another; "the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood"
business cycle, trade cycle - recurring fluctuations in economic activity consisting of recession and recovery and growth and decline
daily variation - fluctuations that occur between one day and the next
diurnal variation - fluctuations that occur during each day
tide - something that may increase or decrease (like the tides of the sea); "a rising tide of popular interest"
2.variation - an activity that varies from a norm or standardvariation - an activity that varies from a norm or standard; "any variation in his routine was immediately reported"
activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity"
3.variation - a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished
melodic theme, musical theme, theme, idea - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"
inversion - (counterpoint) a variation of a melody or part in which ascending intervals are replaced by descending intervals and vice versa
partita - one of the variations contained in a partita
4.variation - something a little different from others of the same typevariation - something a little different from others of the same type; "an experimental version of the night fighter"; "a variant of the same word"; "an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone"; "the boy is a younger edition of his father"
type - a subdivision of a particular kind of thing; "what type of sculpture do you prefer?"
5.variation - an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard; "he patented a variation on the sandal"
mongrel, bastard - derogatory term for a variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin; "the architecture was a kind of bastard suggesting Gothic but not true Gothic"
thing - an artifact; "how does this thing work?"
6.variation - the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true northvariation - the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north
angle - the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
7.variation - the process of varying or being varied
physical process, process - a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states; "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls"
covariation - (statistics) correlated variation
8.variation - (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)
astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
perturbation - (physics) a secondary influence on a system that causes it to deviate slightly
libration - (astronomy) a real or apparent slow oscillation of a moon or satellite; "the libration of the moon"
9.variation - (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alterationvariation - (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms
freak, lusus naturae, monstrosity, monster - a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed
10.variation - (ballet) a solo dance or dance figure
dancing, terpsichore, dance, saltation - taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
ballet, concert dance - a theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers
11.variation - the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard; "who is responsible for these variations in taxation?"
change - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election"

variation
noun
1. alternative, variety, modification, departure, innovation, variant This delicious variation on an omelette is easy to prepare.
2. variety, change, deviation, difference, diversity, diversion, novelty, alteration, discrepancy, diversification, departure from the norm, break in routine Every day without variation my grandfather ate a plate of ham.
variety uniformity, tedium, monotony, dullness, sameness
3. (often plural) difference, contrast, distinction, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude local variations in price and availability
Translations
variation [ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən] N (gen) → variación f (also Mus); (= variant form) → variedad f
variation [ˌvɛəriˈeɪʃən] n
(= different version) → variation f
a variation on sth → une variation sur qch
(= differences) (in opinion)variations fpl; (in temperature, pressure, prices, level)variations fpl
a wide variation in prices → de grandes variations entre les prix
(MUSIC)variation f
varicose veins [ˌværɪkəʊsˈveɪnz] nplvarices fpl
variation
n
(= varying)Veränderung f; (Sci) → Variation f; (Met) → Schwankung f, → Wechsel m; (of temperature)Unterschiede pl, → Schwankung(en) f(pl); (of prices)Schwankung f; an unexpected variation in conditionseine unerwartete Veränderung der Bedingungen; there’s been a lot of variation in the prices recentlyin letzter Zeit gab es viele Preisschwankungen; these figures are subject to seasonal variationdiese Zahlen sind saisonbedingten Schwankungen unterworfen; variation in opinionsunterschiedliche Ansichten pl; he does it every day without variationer macht es jeden Tag ohne Ausnahme
(Mus) → Variation f; variations on a themeThema mit Variationen, Variationen zu einem or über ein Thema
(= different form)Variation f, → Variante f; (Biol) → Variante f; this is a variation on thatdas ist eine Variation or Abänderung dessen or davon; a new variation in the designeine neue Variation des Musters; regional variations in pronunciationregionale Aussprachevarianten pl; several variations on a basic ideamehrere Variationsmöglichkeiten einer Grundidee
variation [ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃn] n (of amount, quality, also) (Mus) → variazione f; (in opinion) → cambiamento


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