1. (

• variation ,
• fluctuation

) an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change ;

2. (

• variation ,
• variance

) an activity that varies from a norm or standard; "any variation in his routine was immediately reported" ;

3. (

• variation

) a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished ;

4. (

• version ,
• variant ,
• variation ,
• edition

) something a little different from others of the same type; "an experimental version of the night fighter"; "a variant of the same word"; "an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone"; "the boy is a younger edition of his father" ;

5. (

• variation

) an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard; "he patented a variation on the sandal" ;

6. (

• magnetic_declination ,
• magnetic_variation ,
• variation

) the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north ;

7. (

• variation

) the process of varying or being varied ;

8. (

• variation

) (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon) ;

9. (

• mutant ,
• mutation ,
• variation ,
• sport ,

) (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration ;

10. (

• pas_seul ,
• variation ,

) (ballet) a solo dance or dance figure ;

11. (

• variation ,

) the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard; "who is responsible for these variations in taxation?" ;