Definition of: variation

(vâr′ē·ā′shən) noun
1. The act, process, state, or result of varying; modification; diversity.
2. The extent to which a thing varies.
3. Inflection, as of declensions or conjugations; also, change in certain vowel sounds.
4. A repetition of the essential features of a musical theme or melody with fanciful embellishments.
5. Astron. a An inequality in the moon's motion. b Any change in the elements of an orbit.
6. Biol. Deviation in structure or function from the type or parent form of an organism, as by heredity or in response to conditions of environment.
7. Stat. Dispersion. See synonyms under CHANGE, DIFFERENCE. [<F]
—var′i·a′tion·al adjective