- Variation of the needle
- Variation Va`ri*a"tion, n. [OE. variatioun, F. variation, L.
variatio. See {Vary}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form,
position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification;
alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a
variation of color in different lights; a variation in
size; variation of language.
[1913 Webster]
The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change. [1913 Webster]
3. (Gram.) Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mus.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity. [1913 Webster]
5. (Alg.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together. [1913 Webster]
{Annual variation} (Astron.), the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star.
{Calculus of variations}. See under {Calculus}.
{Variation compass}. See under {Compass}.
{Variation of the moon} (Astron.), an inequality of the moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures.
{Variation of the needle} (Geog. & Naut.), the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; -- called also {declination of the needle}. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
