Definition of evolution
- n. - The act of unfolding or unrolling; hence, in the process
of growth; development; as, the evolution of a flower from a bud, or an
animal from the egg.
- n. - A series of things unrolled or unfolded.
- n. - The formation of an involute by unwrapping a thread from
a curve as an evolute.
- n. - The extraction of roots; -- the reverse of involution.
- n. - 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.
- n. - 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.
- n. - That theory of generation which supposes the germ to
preexist in the parent, and its parts to be developed, but not actually
formed, by the procreative act; -- opposed to epigenesis.
- n. - 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 pocess 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.