| variation | |
| 1. n. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing | |
| 2. n. A related but distinct thing. | |
| when the process didn't work, we tried a variation; all of his songs are variations on a single theme | |
| 3. n. (nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination. | |
| 4. n. (board games) A line of play that differs from the original. | |
| 5. n. (music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground ba | |
| 6. n. (genetics) The modification of a hereditary trait. | |
