variation

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: varyation, varication, validation, tarnation, narration, satiation, radiation, vacation, striation, vallation, valuation

Antonyms: varyation, varication, validation, tarnation, narration, satiation, radiation, vacation, striation, vallation, valuation

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. The act of [[vary]]ing; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.
2. A [[related]] but [[distinct]] thing.
3. {{lb|en|nautical}} The [[angular]] [[difference]] at the [[vessel]] between the [[direction]] of [[true north]] and [[magnetic north]].
4. {{lb|en|board games}} A line of play that differs from the original.
5. {{lb|en|music}} A [[technique]] where [[material]] is repeated with [[alteration]]s to the [[melody]], [[harmony]], [[rhythm]], [[timbre]], [[texture]], [[counterpoint]] or [[orchestration]]; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a [[ground bass]].
6. {{lb|en|genetics}} The modification of a hereditary trait.
7. {{lb|en|astronomy}} [[deviation|Deviation]] from the [[mean]] [[orbit]] of a [[heavenly body]].
8. {{lb|en|linguistics}} The situation where two or more linguistic forms appear in the same environment without a change in meaning, the choice of form being determined by factors of [[dialect]], [[sociolect]], [[register]] or simply the speaker's preference.
9. {{lb|en|mathematics|[[variational calculus]]}} An infinitesimal perturbation applied to a function, typically denoted <math>\delta f</math>, used to probe how a [[functional]] changes.
10. {{lb|en|mathematics|[[variational calculus]]}} The corresponding first-order change in a functional induced by such a perturbation, typically denoted <math>\delta J[f]</math> and called the ''first variation''.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.