variation (n.)

late 14c., "difference, divergence," from Old French variacion "variety, diversity" and directly from Latin variationem (nominative variatio) "a difference, variation, change," from past participle stem of variare "to change" (see vary). The musical sense is attested from 1801. Related: Variational.

Entries linking to variation

vary (v.)

mid-14c. (transitive); late 14c. (intransitive), from Old French variier "be changed, go astray; change, alter, transform" and directly from Latin variare "change, alter, make different," from varius "varied, different, spotted;" perhaps related to varus "bent, crooked, knock-kneed," and varix "varicose vein," and, more distantly, to Old English wearte "wart," Swedish varbulde "pus swelling," Latin verruca "wart." Related: Varied; varying.

bivariate (adj.)

also bi-variate, "involving two variables," 1906, from bi- + -variate, from Latin variatio (see variation).

Share variation

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation">Etymology of variation by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of variation. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of variation,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of variation.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of variation.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/variation (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of variation

variation (n.)

an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change;

Synonyms: fluctuation

variation (n.)

an activity that varies from a norm or standard;

any variation in his routine was immediately reported

Synonyms: variance

variation (n.)

a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished;

variation (n.)

something a little different from others of the same type;

an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone

Synonyms: version / variant / edition

variation (n.)

an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard;

he patented a variation on the sandal

variation (n.)

the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north;

Synonyms: magnetic declination / magnetic variation

variation (n.)

the process of varying or being varied;

variation (n.)

(astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon);

variation (n.)

(biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration;

Synonyms: mutant / mutation / sport

variation (n.)

(ballet) a solo dance or dance figure;

Synonyms: pas seul

variation (n.)

the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard;

who is responsible for these variations in taxation?

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near variation

variability

variable

variance

variant

variate

variation

varicella

varices

varicocele

varicolored

varicose