the act, process, or accident of varying in condition, character, or degree: Prices are subject to variation.
an instance of this: There is a variation in the quality of fabrics in this shipment.
amount, rate, extent, or degree of change: a temperature variation of 40° in a particular climate.
a different form of something; variant.
Music.
- the transformation of a melody or theme with changes or elaborations in harmony, rhythm, and melody.
- a varied form of a melody or theme, especially one of a series of such forms developing the capacities of the subject.
Ballet.
a solo dance, especially one forming a section of a pas de deux.
Astronomy.
any deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly body, especially of a planetary or satellite orbit.
Also called magnetic declination, magnetic variation. Navigation.
the angle between the geographic and the magnetic meridian at a given point, expressed in plus degrees east or minus degrees west of true north.
Compare deviation(def 4).
Biology.
a difference or deviation in structure or character from others of the same species or group.