Evolution

Evolution
Evolution Ev`o*lu"tion ([e^]v`[-o]*l[=u]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. evolutio an unrolling: cf. F. ['e]volution evolution. See {Evolve}.] 1. The act of unfolding or unrolling; hence, any process of growth or development; as, the evolution of a flower from a bud, or an animal from the egg. [1913 Webster]

2. A series of things unrolled or unfolded. ``The whole evolution of ages.'' --Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster]

3. (Geom.) The formation of an involute by unwrapping a thread from a curve as an evolute. --Hutton. [1913 Webster]

4. (Arith. & Alg.) The extraction of roots; -- the reverse of involution. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mil. & Naval) A prescribed movement of a body of troops, or a vessel or fleet; any movement designed to effect a new arrangement or disposition; a maneuver. [1913 Webster]

Those evolutions are best which can be executed with the greatest celerity, compatible with regularity. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]

6. (Biol.) A general name for the history of the steps by which any living organism has acquired the morphological and physiological characters which distinguish it; a gradual unfolding of successive phases of growth or development. [1913 Webster]

7. (Biol.) That theory of generation which supposes the germ to pre["e]xist in the parent, and its parts to be developed, but not actually formed, by the procreative act; -- opposed to {epigenesis}. [1913 Webster]

8. (Metaph.) That series of changes under natural law which involves continuous progress from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous in structure, and from the single and simple to the diverse and manifold in quality or function. The process is by some limited to organic beings; by others it is applied to the inorganic and the psychical. It is also applied to explain the existence and growth of institutions, manners, language, civilization, and every product of human activity. The agencies and laws of the process are variously explained by different philosophrs. [1913 Webster]

Evolution is to me series with development. --Gladstone. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • ÉVOLUTION — Le terme évolution a désigné et désigne encore plusieurs concepts; il sera pris ici dans le sens d’évolution biologique, défini précisément plus loin. Dans cette acception, il est d’un emploi relativement récent. Ni Lamarck ni Darwin ne s’en sont …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Evolution —     Evolution (History and Scientific Foundation)     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Evolution (History and Scientific Foundation)     The world of organisms comprises a great system of individual forms generally classified according to structural… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Evolution — ist die Veränderung der vererbbaren Merkmale einer Population von Lebewesen von Generation zu Generation. Diese Merkmale sind in Form von Genen kodiert, die bei der Fortpflanzung kopiert und an den Nachwuchs weitergegeben werden. Durch Mutationen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Evolution — Évolution Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Evolution — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Evolution puede referirse a: Evolution (película), una película dirigida por Ivan Reitman. Evolution (software), antes conocido como Novell Evolution, un gestor de información personal y de trabajo en grupo para… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Evolution — Почтовый клиент …   Википедия

  • Evolution — Sf Entwicklung erw. fach. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Unter dem Einfluß von frz. évolution entlehnt aus l. ēvolūtio das Aufrollen, Aufwickeln (einer Buchrolle) , zu l. ēvolvere (ēvolūtum) auseinanderwickeln, entwickeln , zu l. volvere drehen, rollen… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • evolution — UK US /ˌiːvəˈluːʃən/ noun [U or C] ► a gradual process of change and development: the evolution of sth »The evolution of modern management began in the last decades of the nineteenth century. evolution from sth to/into sth »As CEO he has overseen …   Financial and business terms

  • evolution —     Evolution generally describes any gradual process of change. It is used more specifically to describe any theory that explains biological diversity through gradual change derived from initial commonality. There have been many theories of this …   Christian Philosophy

  • evolution — 1620s, an opening of what was rolled up, from L. evolutionem (nom. evolutio) unrolling (of a book), noun of action from evolvere (see EVOLVE (Cf. evolve)). Used in various senses in medicine, mathematics, and general use, including growth to… …   Etymology dictionary

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