evolutionary

Variant of evolution

evolution definition

evo·lu·tion (ev′ə lo̵̅o̅s̸hən; occas. ē′və-)

noun

  1. an unfolding, opening out, or working out; process of development, as from a simple to a complex form, or of gradual, progressive change, as in a social and economic structure
  2. a result or product of this; thing evolved
    1. a movement that is part of a series or pattern
    2. a pattern produced, or seemingly produced, by such a series of movements the evolutions of a fancy skater
  3. a setting free or giving off, as of gas in a chemical reaction
  4. Biol.
    1. the development of a species, organism, or organ from its original or primitive state to its present or specialized state; phylogeny or ontogeny
    2. Darwinian theory
  5. Math. the extracting of a root of a given number
  6. Etymology: Fr évolution

    Mil. any of various movements or maneuvers by which troops, ships, etc. change formation

Etymology: L evolutio, an unrolling or opening < evolutus, pp. of evolvere: see evolve

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.