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permutation definition

per·mu·ta·tion (pʉr′myo̵̅o̅ tā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. any radical alteration; total transformation
    1. a complete rearrangement, esp. by interchanging
    2. Math. any of the total number of groupings, or subsets, into which a group, or set, of elements can be arranged in a particular order: the permutations of A, B, and C taken two at a time are AB, BA, AC, CA, BC, CB

Etymology: ME permutacion < MFr < L permutatio < permutare: see permute

Related Forms:

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

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