modification

[ mod-uh-fi-key-shuh n ]
/ ˌmɒd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

an act or instance of modifying.
the state of being modified; partial alteration.
a modified form; variety.
Biology. a change in a living organism acquired from its own activity or environment and not transmitted to its descendants.
limitation or qualification.
Grammar.
  1. the use of a modifier in a construction, or of modifiers in a class of constructions or in a language.
  2. the meaning of a modifier, especially as it affects the meaning of the word or other form modified: Limitation is one kind of modification.
  3. a change in the phonological shape of a morpheme, word, or other form when it functions as an element in a construction, as the change of not to -n't in doesn't.
  4. an adjustment in the form of a word as it passes from one language to another.

Origin of modification

1495–1505; < Latin modificātiōn- (stem of modificātiō), equivalent to modificāt(us) (past participle of modificāre; see modify) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM modification

in·ter·mod·i·fi·ca·tion, noun o·ver·mod·i·fi·ca·tion, noun pre·mod·i·fi·ca·tion, noun re·mod·i·fi·ca·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for modification

British Dictionary definitions for modification

modification
/ (ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of modifying or the condition of being modified
something modified; the result of a modification
a small change or adjustment
grammar the relation between a modifier and the word or phrase that it modifies

Derived forms of modification

modificatory or modificative, adjective

Medical definitions for modification

modification
[ mŏd′ə-fĭ-kāshən ]

n.

Any of the changes in an organism that are caused by environment or activity and are not genetically transmissable to offspring.

Scientific definitions for modification

modification
[ mŏd′ə-fĭ-kāshən ]

A change in an organism that results from external influences and cannot be inherited.