variation
noun
var·i·a·tion
| \ ˌver-ē-ˈā-shən
\
\
Definition of variation
1a
: 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
3a
: 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 such elements as rhythm, melody, harmony, key, tempo, and accompaniment
5a
: divergence in the structural or functional characteristics of an organism from the species or population norm or average
b
: something (such as an individual or group) that exhibits variation
6a
: a solo dance in classic ballet
b
: a repetition in modern ballet of a movement sequence with changes
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Other Words from variation
variational
\ ˌver-ē-ˈā-shnəl
, -shə-nᵊl \
adjective
, -shə-nᵊl \
adjective
variationally
adverb
Examples of variation in a Sentence
the movie begins with a somewhat irreverent variation on the Nativity story
the latest in a long line of variations in her hair color
Recent Examples on the Web
Tonal variation is a big part of what interests me. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "The Rules of Decorating with Color, According to Rebecca Atwood," 3 Sep. 2019 This is one variation of the classic Spanish soup, which many cooks claim is best ice cold. — Karoline Boehm Goodnick, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipe: Spicy watermelon gazpacho has all the elements of the classic soup — with a chile pepper," 23 July 2019 In terms of magnitude and number of quakes, Abreu said the Ridgecrest sequence has actually decayed faster than expected, but the variation isn't unusual for the geological setting. — Kristin Lam, USA TODAY, "Is 'The Big One' next? California was shaking again Tuesday, with three earthquakes of 3.5 or greater," 16 July 2019 The tonal variations are partly in the eye of the beholder, and partly in the screens themselves. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, "In the galleries: Pulsating dramas of light and sound," 12 July 2019 Social Security number linked to a crime: A new variation of the your-assets-are-about-to-be-frozen scam is unsettling. — cleveland.com, "Senior scams on the rise as new cons emerge: Here’s how to protect yourself," 30 June 2019 The median—half the prices are above and half below—can give a sense of what a procedure will cost, but the variation can be wide. — Melanie Evans, WSJ, "One State’s Effort to Publicize Hospital Prices Brings Mixed Results," 26 June 2019 Luckily, for those who've been hesitant to try the look, the summer variation on the multicolored manicure is the most wearable yet. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "The Simple Way To Wear Instagram's Trendiest Manicure," 25 June 2019 Don't fret though, even though these early 2000s trends are quite questionable, their 2019 variations are worthwhile. — Bianca Nieves, Teen Vogue, "The 5 2000s Trends We're Wearing In Honor of The Hills Reboot," 24 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'variation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for variation
variation
noun
English Language Learners Definition of variation
: a change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something
: something that is similar to something else but different in some way
music
: a repeated version of a short piece of music with changes in its rhythm, tune, or harmony
See the full definition for variation in the English Language Learners Dictionary
variation
noun
var·i·a·tion
| \ ˌver-ē-ˈā-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of variation
1
: a change in form, position, or condition
Our routine could use some variation.
2
: amount of change or difference
Scientists record the variations in temperature.
3
: departure from what is usual to a group
The poodle's offspring show no variation from the breed.
variation
noun
var·i·a·tion
| \ ˌver-ē-ˈā-shən, ˌvar-
\
\
Medical Definition of variation
1
: divergence in one or more characteristics of an organism or biotype from those typical of or usual for its group
2
: something (as an individual or group) that exhibits variation
Other Words from variation
variational
\ -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl
\
adjective
\
adjective