variation

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Related to variation: continuous variation, inverse variation

var·i·a·tion

(vâr′ē-ā′shən, văr′-)

a. The act, fact, or process of varying.

b. The extent or degree to which something varies: a variation of ten pounds in weight.

2. Something different from another of the same type: told a variation of an old joke. See Synonyms at difference.

3. Magnetic declination.

4. Biology The existence within a species or other group of organisms of differences in form, function, or behavior, especially when hereditary.

5. Mathematics A function that relates the values of one variable to those of other variables.

6. 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.

7. A solo dance, especially one forming part of a larger work.

var′i·a′tion·al adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

variation

(ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən)

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. (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. (Navigation) another word for magnetic declination

8. (Ballet) ballet a solo dance

9. (Linguistics) linguistics any form of morphophonemic change, such as one involved in inflection, conjugation, or vowel mutation

ˌvariˈational adj

ˌvariˈationally adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

var•i•a•tion

(ˌvɛər iˈeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the act or process of varying: prices subject to variation.

2. an instance of this: a variation in quality.

3. amount of change: a temperature variation of 20°.

4. a different form of something.

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

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

7. any deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly body.

8. the angle between the geographic and the magnetic meridian at a given point.

9. a deviation in character from others of the same species.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin variātiō=variāre to vary + -tiō -tion]

var`i•a′tion•al, adj.

variation

The angular difference between true and magnetic north. See also deviation.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

variation

A solo dance, especially a solo section of a pas de deux.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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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" 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"

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

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

variation

noun

1. The condition or fact of varying:

difference, variance.

2. The process or result of making or becoming different:

alteration, change, modification, mutation, permutation.

3. One that is slightly different from others of the same kind or designation:

variant, variety, version.

Translations

تَغَيُّر، تَبَدُّل

variacezměna

svingningvariation

Abwandlung Variation Veränderung

variación

variation oscillation

variáció

munur, sveiflatilbrigîi

variazione aberrazione

svingning

вариация

variácia

razlika

çeşitleme değişiklik fark

变化变奏变奏曲

variation

[ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən] N (gen) → variación f (also Mus); (= variant form) → variedad f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

variation

[ˌvɛəriˈeɪʃ^ən] 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 fvaricose veins [ˌværɪkəʊsˈveɪnz] npl → varices fpl

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

variation

(= 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 conditions → eine unerwartete Veränderung der Bedingungen; there’s been a lot of variation in the prices recently → in letzter Zeit gab es viele Preisschwankungen; these figures are subject to seasonal variation → diese Zahlen sind saisonbedingten Schwankungen unterworfen; variation in opinions → unterschiedliche Ansichten pl; he does it every day without variation → er macht es jeden Tag ohne Ausnahme

(Mus) → Variation f; variations on a theme → Thema mit Variationen, Variationen zu einem or über ein Thema

(= different form) → Variation f, → Variante f; (Biol) → Variante f; this is a variation on that → das ist eine Variation or Abänderung dessen or davon; a new variation in the design → eine neue Variation des Musters; regional variations in pronunciation → regionale Aussprachevarianten pl; several variations on a basic idea → mehrere Variationsmöglichkeiten einer Grundidee

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

variation

[ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃ/ən] n (of amount, quality, also) (Mus) → variazione f; (in opinion) → cambiamento

vary

(ˈveəri) verb

to make, be or become different. These apples vary in size from small to medium.

ˈvariable adjective

1. that may be varied. The machine works at a variable speed.

2. (of eg winds, weather etc) liable or likely to change. British weather is very variable.

noun

something that varies, eg in quantity, value, effect etc. Have you taken all the variables into account in your calculations?

ˈvariably adverb

ˌvariaˈbility – plural variaˈbilities – noun

ˌvariˈation noun

1. the extent to which a thing changes. In the desert there are great variations in temperature.

2. one of a series of musical elaborations made on a basic theme or melody. Brahms' variations on Haydn's `St Anthony's Chorale'.

ˈvaried adjective

He has had a very varied career.

var·i·a·tion

n. variación, diversidad en las características de objetos que se relacionan entre sí.

variation

n variación f

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Naturalists continually refer to external conditions, such as climate, food, &c., as the only possible cause of variation. In one very limited sense, as we shall hereafter see, this may be true; but it is preposterous to attribute to mere external conditions, the structure, for instance, of the woodpecker, with its feet, tail, beak, and tongue, so admirably adapted to catch insects under the bark of trees.

Nor have I been disappointed; in this and in all other perplexing cases I have invariably found that our knowledge, imperfect though it be, of variation under domestication, afforded the best and safest clue.

From these considerations, I shall devote the first chapter of this Abstract to Variation under Domestication.

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The sun rose in the undoubted east and set in the undoubted west, corrected and proved, of course, by declination, deviation, and variation; and the nightly march of the stars and constellations proceeded across the sky.

"But, of course, the variation has changed, Captain Doane.

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Quantity does not, it appears, admit of variation of degree.

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The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.

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Meanwhile the indefiniteness remains, and the limits of variation are really much wider than any one would imagine from the sameness of women's coiffure and the favorite love-stories in prose and verse.

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These would, perhaps, have fascinated any boy, but I had such a fanaticism for methodical verse that any variation from the octosyllabic and decasyllabic couplets was painful to me.

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The even tone has two variations differing from each other only in pitch; the oblique tone has three variations, known as "Rising, Sinking, and Entering." In a seven-syllable verse the odd syllables can have any tone; as regards the even syllables, when the second syllable is even, then the fourth is oblique, and the sixth even.

View in context

"Ay, ye can, blow" said Alan; and taking the instrument from his rival, he first played the same spring in a manner identical with Robin's; and then wandered into variations, which, as he went on, he decorated with a perfect flight of grace-notes, such as pipers love, and call the "warblers."

Hand me the pipes." Alan did as he asked; and Robin proceeded to imitate and correct some part of Alan's variations, which it seemed that he remembered perfectly.