evolution
    n 1: a process in which something passes by degrees to a
         different stage (especially a more advanced or mature
         stage); "the development of his ideas took many years";
         "the evolution of Greek civilization"; "the slow
         development of her skill as a writer" [syn: development,
         evolution] [ant: degeneration, devolution]
    2: (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary
       development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
       [syn: evolution, organic evolution, phylogeny,
       phylogenesis]

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.
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   2. A series of things unrolled or unfolded. "The whole
      evolution of ages." --Dr. H. More.
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   3. (Geom.) The formation of an involute by unwrapping a
      thread from a curve as an evolute. --Hutton.
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   4. (Arith. & Alg.) The extraction of roots; -- the reverse of
      involution.
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   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.
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            Those evolutions are best which can be executed with
            the greatest celerity, compatible with regularity.
                                                  --Campbell.
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   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.
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   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.
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   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.
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            Evolution is to me series with development.
                                                  --Gladstone.
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