Ev`o*lu"tion (?), n. [L. evolutio an unrolling: cf. F. évolution evolution. See Evolve.]
1. 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.
2. A series of
things unrolled or unfolded. "The whole evolution of ages." Dr.
H. More.
3. (Geom.) The formation of an involute by unwrapping a thread from a
curve as an
evolute. Hutton.
4. (Arith. & Alg.) The
extraction of roots; -- the reverse of involution.
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.
Those evolutions are best which can be
executed with the greatest celerity, compatible with regularity.
Campbell.
6. (Biol.) (a)
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. (b) That theory of generation which supposes
the germ to
preëxist in the parent, and its parts to
be developed, but not actually formed, by the procreative act; -- opposed to epigenesis.
7.
(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 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 philosophers.
Evolution is to me series with development.
Gladstone.
Hear it pronounced