Variation VARIA'TION, n. [L. variatio. See Vary.]
1. Alteration; a partial change in the form, position, state or qualities of the same thing; as a variation of color in different lights; a variation in the size of a plant from day to day; the unceasing, though slow variation of language; a variation in a soil from year to year. Our opinions are subject to continual variations.
The essences of things are conceived not capable of such variation.
2. Difference; change from one to another.
In some other places are born more females than males; which, upon this variation of proportion, I recommend to the curious.
3. In grammar, change of termination of nouns and adjectives, constituting what is called case, number and gender; as the variation of words.
4. Deviation; as a variation of a transcript from the original.
5. In astronomy, the variation of the moon is the third inequality in her motion; by which, when out of the quadratures, her true place differs from her place twice equated.
6. In geography and navigation, the deviation of the magnetic needle from the true north point; called also declination.
The variation of the needle at New Haven, in 1820, as ascertained from the mean of numerous observations made by Professor Fisher, was 4 degrees 25.42' west.
7. In music, the different manner of singing or playing the same air or tune, by subdividing the notes into several others of less value, or by adding graces, yet so that the tune itself may be discovered through all its embellishments.

variation n 1: an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change [syn: variation, fluctuation] 2: an activity that varies from a norm or standard; "any variation in his routine was immediately reported" [syn: variation, variance] 3: a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished 4: 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" [syn: version, variant, variation, edition] 5: an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard; "he patented a variation on the sandal" 6: the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north [syn: magnetic declination, magnetic variation}, variation] 7: the process of varying or being varied 8: (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon) 9: (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration [syn: mutant, mutation, variation, sport] 10: (ballet) a solo dance or dance figure [syn: pas seul, variation] 11: the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard; "who is responsible for these variations in taxation?"

variation noun Date: 14th century 1. a. the act or process of varying ; the state or fact of being varied b. an instance of varying c. the extent to which or the range in which a thing varies 2. declination 6 3. a. a change of algebraic sign between successive terms of a sequence b. a measure of the change in data, a variable, or a function 4. the repetition of a musical theme with modifications in rhythm, tune, harmony, or key 5. a. divergence in the structural or functional characteristics of an organism from the species or population norm or average b. something (as an individual or group) that exhibits variation 6. a. a solo dance in classic ballet b. a repetition in modern ballet of a movement sequence with changes • variational adjective • variationally adverb

variation
n.
1 the act or an instance of varying.
2 departure from a former or normal condition, action, or amount, or from a standard or type (prices are subject to variation).
3 the extent of this.
4 a thing that varies from a type.
5 Mus. a repetition (usu. one of several) of a theme in a changed or elaborated form.
6 Astron. a deviation of a heavenly body from its mean orbit or motion.
7 Math. a change in a function etc. due to small changes in the values of constants etc.
8 Ballet a solo dance.
Derivatives:
variational adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF variation or L variatio (as VARY)

variation (variations) 1. A variation on something is the same thing presented in a slightly different form. This delicious variation on an omelette is quick and easy to prepare... N-COUNT: usu N on n 2. A variation is a change or slight difference in a level, amount, or quantity. The survey found a wide variation in the prices charged for canteen food... Every day without variation my grandfather ate a plate of cold ham. N-VAR

variation ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən n. 1 the act or an instance of varying. 2 departure from a former or normal condition, action, or amount, or from a standard or type (prices are subject to variation). 3 the extent of this. 4 a thing that varies from a type. 5 Mus. a repetition (usu. one of several) of a theme in a changed or elaborated form. 6 Astron. a deviation of a heavenly body from its mean orbit or motion. 7 Math. a change in a function etc. due to small changes in the values of constants etc. 8 Ballet a solo dance. øøvariational adj. [ME f. OF variation or L variatio (as VARY)]

Variation \Va`ri*a"tion\, n. [OE. variatioun, F. variation, L. variatio. See Vary.] 1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language. The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation. --Locke. 2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change. 3. (Gram.) Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc. 4. (Mus.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity. 5. (Alg.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together. Annual variation (Astron.), the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. Calculus of variations. See under Calculus. Variation compass. See under Compass. Variation of the moon (Astron.), an inequality of the moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. Variation of the needle (Geog. & Naut.), the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; -- called also declination of the needle}. Syn: Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.

variation n. 1. Alteration, mutation, change, modification. 2. Deviation, departure, difference, diversity, discrepance, discrepancy.

variation ˌvɛərɪˈeɪʃən n. 1 change, changing, alteration, altering, variety, varying, modification, modifying, difference, differing, diversification, diversity, diversifying, modulation, modulating, conversion, converting, permutation, permuting: We have to allow for variation in the intensity of the light. 2 variety, choice, novelty, diversity, departure (from the norm or usual), change of pace, divergence, variegation, deviation (from the norm): This restaurant offers considerable variation in its menu.

321 Moby Thesaurus words for "variation": Nachtmusik, Proteus, aberrancy, aberration, about-face, absolute music, accommodation, adaptation, adjustment, air varie, aleatory, aleatory music, allotropism, allotropy, alteration, altering, alternation, amelioration, anacrusis, analysis, anatomization, apostasy, arrangement, atomization, bass passage, bend, betterment, bias, bourdon, branching off, break, bridge, burden, cadence, capriciousness, chamber music, chamber orchestra, change, change of heart, change of pace, changeability, changeableness, changing, choice, choppiness, chorus, circuitousness, coda, composition, constructive change, continuity, contrariety, contrast, conversion, corner, crook, curve, dappleness, declination, defection, deflection, degeneration, degenerative change, demarcation, departure, descant, desultoriness, desynonymization, deterioration, detour, development, deviability, deviance, deviancy, deviation, deviousness, difference, differencing, differentiation, differing, digression, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, disconformity, discongruity, discontinuity, discordance, discrepancy, discreteness, discrimination, discursion, disequalization, disjunction, disorder, disparity, dissent, dissimilarity, dissonance, distinction, distinctness, distinguishment, divagation, divarication, divergence, divergency, diversification, diversion, diversity, division, dogleg, double, drift, drifting, eccentricity, electronic music, errantry, erraticism, etude, excursion, excursus, exercise, exorbitation, exposition, far cry, fickleness, figure, fitting, flightiness, flip-flop, fluctuation, folderol, freakishness, gradual change, hairpin, harmonic close, harmonization, her infinite variety, heterogeneity, heteromorphism, improvement, impulsiveness, inaccordance, incidental music, incompatibility, incongruity, inconsistency, inconsonance, inconstancy, indirection, individualization, individuation, inequality, inharmoniousness, inharmony, instability, instrumental music, interlude, intermezzo, introductory phrase, invention, irreconcilability, irregularity, jerkiness, manifoldness, measure, melioration, mercuriality, mitigation, mixture, modification, modifying, modulation, moodiness, motleyness, movement, multifariousness, multiplicity, musical phrase, musical sentence, mutability, mutation, nocturne, nonconformism, nonconformity, nonstandardization, nonuniformity, novelty, obliquity, odds, omnifariousness, omniformity, opposition, opus, orchestration, ornament, oscillation, otherness, overthrow, part, particularization, passage, pendulation, pererration, period, permutation, personalization, phrase, piece, pluralism, polymorphism, production, program music, qualification, radical change, raggedness, rambling, re-creation, realignment, redesign, reform, reformation, refrain, remaking, renewal, reshaping, resolution, response, restlessness, restructuring, reversal, revival, revivification, revolution, ricercar, ritornello, score, section, seesawing, segregation, separateness, separation, severalization, severance, shapeshifter, sheer, shift, shiftiness, shifting, shifting course, shifting path, shuffling, skew, slant, sonata, sonatina, specialization, stanza, statement, strain, straying, string orchestra, string quartet, study, sudden change, sweep, swerve, swerving, swinging, switch, tack, tailpiece, teeter-tottering, teetering, theme and variations, total change, tottering, transition, trio, turn, turnabout, turning, tutti, tutti passage, twist, uncertainty, unconformism, unconformity, undependability, unfixedness, unlikeness, unorthodoxy, unpredictability, unreliability, unsettledness, unstableness, unsteadfastness, unsteadiness, upheaval, vacillation, variability, variance, variegation, variety, variousness, varying, veer, versatility, verse, vicissitude, violent change, wandering, wantonness, warp, wavering, waywardness, whimsicality, work, worsening, yaw, zigzag

look up a word or phrase