Dictionary

evolution en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ɛvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(London) audio
/ˌiːvəˈlʉːʃən/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
ēv'ə- (Canada, General-American)
/ˌɛvəˈluʃ(ə)n/ (Canada, General-American)
/ˌevəˈlʉːʃən/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
ĕv'ə-lo͞oʹshən (Canada, General-American)
/ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(California) audio
/ˌivə-/ (Canada, General-American)
-lo͞oshʹn (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnis (“the act of unrolling, unfolding or opening (of a book)”), from ēvolūtus, perfect passive participle of ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ex + volvō (“roll”). Compare typologically Czech vývoj, Serbo-Croatian развој, Russian разви́ть (razvítʹ), развива́ть (razvivátʹ), разви́ться (razvítʹsja), развива́ться (razvivátʹsja), Russian разви́тие (razvítije), related to Proto-Slavic *viti (whence Czech vít, Russian вить (vitʹ)).

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) A change of position. ▸ A manoeuvre of troops or ships.
- Mean while, he never failed to be present, when any regiment, or corps of men, were drawn out to be exercised and reviewed, and accompanied them in all their evolutions […]. 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
- Major Holroyd, who acted as the General, was extremely polite, and attentive, and came to us between every evolution, to explain and talk over the manoeuvres. 1779, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 117:
(countable, uncountable) A change of position. ▸ A turning movement, especially of the body.
- "Look now, that pirouette -- my stars! how Beauchamp would stare to see his darling perform such an evolution!" 1863, Knightley Willia Horlock, The master of the hounds:
- Our necromancer […] taking up his wand, waved it around his head in a very mysterious motion, with a view of intimidating these forward visitants, who, far from being awed by this sort of evolution, became more and more obstreperous […]. 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
- … as he beheld the tenfold pirouette of a lovely girl, which presented to the public eye the whole of her form and figure; … to praise the dexterity and ease with which the unfortunate and degraded creature had performed the ungraceful evolution, the only merit of which, is the gross exposition of person, at which modesty shudders […] 1825, Theodore Edward Hook, Sayings and Doings: Passion and principle:
- By this operation each foot will describe an arc or segment of a circle. … This evolution is performed sometimes on one foot, sometimes on the other … 1869, William Clarke, The boy's own book:
- It was a critical instant: the pirouette -- it would fail, she feared. … the rapid whirl achieved in exact time, the whole evolution executed to perfection. 1869, anonymous author, Miss Langley's Will:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A change of position. ▸ A turned or twisted shape; an involution, a complex or intricate shape.
- ‘It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crouded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.’ 1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, published 2008, page 298:
(archaic, countable, uncountable) An unfolding. ▸ The act or process of unfolding or opening out; the progression of events in regular succession.
- The world […] might have been gradually produced from very small beginnings […] rather than by a sudden evolution of the whole by the Almighty fiat. 1794–1796, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia; or, The Laws of Organic Life, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) An unfolding. ▸ The opening out of a curve; now more generally, the gradual transformation of a curve by a change of the conditions generating it.
(countable, historical, uncountable) An unfolding. ▸ The extraction of a root from a given power.
(countable, uncountable) An unfolding. ▸ The act or an instance of giving off gas; emission.
- Allantoxaidin is decomposed on heating, with evolution of ammonia and cyanic acid. 1879, Journal, volume 36, Great Britain: Chemical Society, page 227:
(countable, uncountable) Process of development. ▸ Development; the act or result of developing what was implicit in an idea, argument etc.
- Suffering has a noble purpose: the evolution of consciousness and the burning up of the ego. 2005, Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth:
- The ongoing evolution of Lolita subculture fashion includes, among other things, the ballet style.
(countable, uncountable) Process of development. ▸ A process of gradual change in a given system, subject, product etc., especially from simpler to more complex forms.
- Among other forms of change, the evolution of transportation has involved modification, diversification, convergence, divergence, hybridization, differentiation, and naturally, selection.
- By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
- There are some examples of cultural evolution in birds and monkeys, but […] it is our own species that really shows what cultural evolution can do. 1976, Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene:
(countable, uncountable) Process of development. ▸ The transformation of animals, plants and other living things into different forms (now understood as a change in genetic composition) by the accumulation of changes over successive generations.
- […]and thus he [Lamarck] was inclined to assert the priority of the types of marine animals to those of the terrestrial, and to fancy, for example, that the testacea of the ocean existed first, until some of them, by gradual evolution, were improved into those inhabiting the land. 1832, Charles Lyell, chapter I, in Principles of Geology […] , volume II, London: John Murray, page 11:
- Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction. 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
- [Some books have] made the erroneous assumption that the important thing in evolution is the good of the species (or the group) rather than the good of the individual (or the gene). 1976, Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
evolutions	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Antonyms

stagnation (antonym(s) of “accumulation of change”) · extinction (antonym(s) of “survival through adaptation”) · revolution (antonym(s) of “gradual process”)

Deriveds

neuroevolution · deistic evolution · evotard · convergent evolution · biological evolution · neoevolution · megaevolution · unilineal evolution · quantum evolution · stellar evolution · paleoevolution · bioevolution · evogram · orthoevolution · time evolution · antievolution · morphoevolution · long term evolution · cosmic evolution · evilution · evolution denial · evolution of the gaps · mesoevolution · organic evolution · evolutionise · Evolution Day · evolutionize · evolutiondidit · planetary evolution · self-evolution · evolution denier · karyoevolution · Eeveelution · social evolution · cultural evolution · evolutionary · co-evolution · ecoevolution · iterative evolution · photoevolution · evolutionlike · unilinear evolution · meta-evolution · participant evolution · coevolution · genetic evolution · emergent evolution · macroevolution · microevolution · theistic evolution · speculative evolution · metaevolution

evolvement · evolutionally · evolver · nonevolutionary · evolve · evolutionistic · evolutor · antievolutionary · evolutional · evolutionist · evolving · evolute · evolvable · evolutionary · evoluture · evolutive · evolutionistically · unevolutionary · Darwinism · evolutionism · neo-Darwinism · Evolutor · evolutionarily

Translations (173)

fi evoluutio (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tt эволюция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lmo evoluzion (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · nb evolusjon (general: a gradual process of development) · mi kukuwhatanga (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · be эвалю́цыя (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · nl evolutie (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · yue 演化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · vo volf (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · uk еволю́ція (general: a gradual process of development) · nb evolusjon (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tl pagsunlad (general: a gradual process of development) · mt evoluzzjoni (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · krc эволюция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · bg престрояване (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · ca evolució (general: a gradual process of development) · ja 進化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lv evolūcija (general: a gradual process of development) · ms ubah ansur (general: a gradual process of development) · ga éabhlóid (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fi evoluutio (general: a gradual process of development) · ca evolució (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cs vývoj (general: a gradual process of development) · da udvikling (general: a gradual process of development) · kk эволюция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · de Evolution (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ka ევოლუცია (general: a gradual process of development) · hi क्रमविकास (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tg такомул (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · gl evolución (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · mn эволюци (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru манёвр (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · pt evolução (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · nan-hbl 進化 /进化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fa تکامل (general: a gradual process of development) · hi क्रमविकास (general: a gradual process of development) · gl evolución (general: a gradual process of development) · el εξέλιξη (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · mi whanaketanga (general: a gradual process of development) · ur تَکامُل (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · pt evolução (general: a gradual process of development) · cmn 演變 /演变 (general: a gradual process of development) · ur ارتقا (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ka განვითარება (general: a gradual process of development) · ar تَطَوُّر (general: a gradual process of development) · he הִשְׁתַלְשְׁלוּת (general: a gradual process of development) · hu evolúció (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ast evolución (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fa تکامل (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · uz evolutsiya (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tg таҳаввул (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · la ēvolūtiō (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · nl evolutie (general: a gradual process of development) · eo evoluo (general: a gradual process of development) · tg эволютсия (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cy esblygiad (general: a gradual process of development) · tr evrim (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · is þróunarkenningin (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · oc evolucion (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · mk еволуција (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · pl ewolucja (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · ast evolución (general: a gradual process of development) · yue 進化 /进化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lt evoliucija (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru разви́тие (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · pt evolução (turning movement of the body) · ko 진화 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tl pagsunlad (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru эволю́ция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · my ဆင့်ကဲဖြစ်စဉ် (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · pl ewolucja (turning movement of the body) · cmn 變遷 /变迁 (general: a gradual process of development) · ru эволю́ция (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · da evolution (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sv evolution (general: a gradual process of development) · haw liliuewe (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · af evolusie (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tk ewolýusiýa (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cmn 演化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · hy էվոլյուցիա (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru эволю́ция (general: a gradual process of development) · nn evolusjon (general: a gradual process of development) · et evolutsioon (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · la prōgressus (general: a gradual process of development) · nan-hbl 演化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · bn বিবর্তন (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sh evolúcija (general: a gradual process of development) · bg еволю́ция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ia evolution (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · hi उद्विकास (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sv evolution (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru передвиже́ние (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · pl ewolucja (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · es evolución (general: a gradual process of development) · pl ewolucja (general: a gradual process of development) · sq evolucion (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · et evolutsioon (general: a gradual process of development) · hy զարգացում (general: a gradual process of development) · ka ევოლუცია (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · la seriēs (general: a gradual process of development) · id evolusi (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lo ວິວັດທະນາການ (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sv utveckling (general: a gradual process of development) · th วิวัฒนาการ (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · az təkamül (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cs evoluce (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fr évolution (general: a gradual process of development) · ms ubah ansur (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · nn evolusjon (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · eo evoluado (general: a gradual process of development) · mi kukuwhatanga (general: a gradual process of development) · cmn 進化 /进化 (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · km ការវិវត្តន៍ (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · th วิวัฒนาการ (general: a gradual process of development) · haw liliuoli (general: a gradual process of development) · pt evolução (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru извлече́ние ко́рня (mathematics: the extraction of a root from a quantity) · mr उत्क्रांती (general: a gradual process of development) · it evoluzione (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · bg разви́тие (general: a gradual process of development) · ky эволюция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · jv épolusi (general: a gradual process of development) · es evolución (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · it evoluzione (general: a gradual process of development) · ru разви́тие (general: a gradual process of development) · he אֶבוֹלוּצְיָה (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · is þróun (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lt evoliucija (general: a gradual process of development) · jv kamajengan (general: a gradual process of development) · mr उत्क्रांती (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ug ئېۋوليۇتسىيە (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · de Evolution (general: a gradual process of development) · sh evolúcija (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · si පරිණාමය (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lv evolūcija (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ps تکامل (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · yi עוואָלוציע (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ro evoluție (general: a gradual process of development) · hy էվոլյուցիա (general: a gradual process of development) · mt evoluzzjoni (general: a gradual process of development) · ms evolusi (general: a gradual process of development) · eu eboluzio (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · gv aafilley (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fr évolution (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ru перестрое́ние (military: One of a series of ordered movements) · ia evolution (general: a gradual process of development) · vi tiến hóa (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · kmr tekamûl (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · oc evolucion (general: a gradual process of development) · sh еволу́ција (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tl kasunlaran (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ar تَطَوُّر (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ky өзгөртүм (general: a gradual process of development) · eo evoluo (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cy esblygiad (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · cs evoluce (general: a gradual process of development) · he הִתְפַּתְּחוּת (general: a gradual process of development) · fi muutos (general: a gradual process of development) · sl evolucija (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · lmo evoluzion (general: a gradual process of development) · uk еволю́ція (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ms evolusi (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sk evolúcia (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · bg извличане (mathematics: the extraction of a root from a quantity) · kmr peresandin (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fa فرگشت (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · sk evolúcia (general: a gradual process of development) · sah эволюция (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · tl ebolusyon (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fa فرگشت (general: a gradual process of development) · ur ارتقاء (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · ro evoluție (biology: change in the genetic composition of a population over time) · fi kehitys (general: a gradual process of development)

wikidata: Q1063