variation

/ˌvɛriˈeɪʃən/
noun
  1. A change or difference in condition, amount, or level.
    • There is a wide variation in temperature between day and night in the desert.
    • The study showed significant variation in test scores among students.
    • We noticed a slight variation in the color of the two paint samples.
  2. A different or distinct form or version of something.
    • The artist created several variations of the same landscape painting.
    • This recipe is a variation of the traditional Italian dish.
    • Each dance is a variation on a basic set of steps.
  3. In biology: a difference in traits among individuals of the same species.
    • Natural selection acts on the variation within a population.
    • The variation in leaf shape is due to differences in sunlight exposure.
    • Genetic variation helps species adapt to changing environments.
  4. In music: a repetition of a theme with changes in melody, rhythm, or harmony.
    • The pianist performed a beautiful variation of the main theme.
    • Each variation in the piece introduced a new mood and tempo.
    • The composer wrote a set of variations on a simple folk tune.