variation
veh-uh-rih-AYSHN
Variation (noun) means a change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something. Example: “There is little variation in the daily temperature near the equator.”
noun
1
A change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something.
"There is little variation in the daily temperature near the equator."
"There's a lot of variation in prices between the two supermarkets."
"Seasonal variation in temperature affects when the crops are planted."
2
A version of something that differs somewhat from the original or from others of its kind.
"This game is a simple variation of tag that we play indoors."
"Her recipe is a healthier variation of the classic chocolate cake."
"The chef served a variation on the traditional dish, with a citrus twist."
3
In music, a passage that reworks a melody with changes to rhythm, harmony, or ornamentation.
"The pianist played a lively variation that changed the tune's rhythm completely."
"In the final variation, the violins carry the melody over a slower, darker harmony."
"Beethoven wrote a set of variations on a simple theme by Diabelli."
How to use variation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVariation is difference or change — whether in temperature, in a recipe, or in a piece of music built around a repeated theme.
Common pairings
seasonal variation
slight variation
theme and variations
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Word forms
- Plural
- variations
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There is little _____ in the daily temperature near the equator.
Etymology
From Old French variacion, from Latin variatio, from variare, "to vary, to change."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for variation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for variation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “variation” mean?
The word “variation” means a change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something. In plain terms, variation is difference or change — whether in temperature, in a recipe, or in a piece of music built around a repeated theme.
How do you pronounce “variation”?
“Variation” is pronounced veh-uh-rih-AYSHN (/ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “variation” in a sentence?
Here is “variation” used in a sentence: “There's a lot of variation in prices between the two supermarkets.”
What part of speech is “variation”?
“Variation” is a noun.
Where does the word “variation” come from?
The word “variation” comes from Latin. From Old French variacion, from Latin variatio, from variare, "to vary, to change.".
Is “variation” a common word?
“Variation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “variation” have?
“Variation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something.
What is the difference between "variation" and "variety"?
"Variation" is a change or difference in something — variation in temperature, for example — or a version that differs from the original. "Variety" is a range of different things ("a wide variety of options") or a particular type of something, such as a variety of tomato.
What is the difference between "variation" and "variant"?
A variant is the differing form itself — a spelling variant, or a variant of a virus. "Variation" names the process or degree of differing ("seasonal variation") and can also mean a differing version, which is where the two words overlap.
What is genetic variation?
Genetic variation is the difference in inherited characteristics among individuals of the same species. It applies the core sense of variation — a difference in form or quality — to genes and traits within a population.
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