(n.) The act of varying; a partial change in the form,
position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation;
mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different
lights; a variation in size; variation of language.
(n.) Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from
a position or state; amount or rate of change.
(n.) Change of termination of words, as in declension,
conjugation, derivation, etc.
(n.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful
embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or
sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new
and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original
shall still preserve their identity.
(n.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of
any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together.
