evo·lu·tion \e-v&-'lü-sh&n\
n
Etymology: Latin evolution-, evolutio unrolling, from
evolvere
Date: 1622
1 : one of a set of prescribed movements
2 a : a process of change in a certain direction
:
UNFOLDING b
: the action or an instance of forming and giving
something off :
EMISSION c
(1) : a process of continuous change from a lower,
simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state
:
GROWTH (2) :
a process of gradual and relatively peaceful social, political,
and economic advance d : something
evolved
3 : the process of working out or developing
4 a : the historical development of a biological
group (as a race or species) :
PHYLOGENY b
: a theory that the various types of animals and plants
have their origin in other preexisting types and that the
distinguishable differences are due to modifications in
successive generations
5 : the extraction of a mathematical root
6 : a process in which the whole universe is a
progression of interrelated phenomena
- evo·lu·tion·ari·ly /-sh&-"ner-&-lE/
adverb
- evo·lu·tion·ary /-sh&-"ner-E/
adjective
- evo·lu·tion·ism /-sh&-"ni-z&m/ noun
- evo·lu·tion·ist /-sh(&-)nist/
noun or adjectivefrom
Merriam-Webster
Collegiate Dictionary Online |
