variation

var·i·a·tion (vâr

n, v

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

Noun

1. something presented in a slightly different form: his books are all variations on a basic theme

2. a change in level, amount, or quantity: there was a variation in the figures

3. Music the repetition of a simple tune with the addition of new harmonies or a change in rhythm: Variations on a Hussar's Song

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	variation - an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change fluctuation 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 standard; "any variation in his routine was immediately reported" variance 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 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" version, edition, variant 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 north magnetic declination, magnetic variation 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 alteration mutant, mutation, sport 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 pas seul 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"