modification

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act of assessing and prescribing a payment, penalty, price, valuation, etc.

   Wherein his highnes commandement is, that a graue, wiſe, ⁊ ſage man, ſhalbe appointed pꝛeſident, who may haue yͤ ouerſight of theſe boũds, ⁊ be anſwerable therefoꝛe to the biſhop, his coũſell ⁊ ſynode, ⁊ he to be reſpected reaſonably foꝛ his paines, at the modification of ſtipends: […]

2. 2
   noun

   The form of existence belonging to a particular object, entity etc.; a mode of being.

   Pleasure is the business of woman's life, according to the present modification of society […]

3. 3
   noun

   The act of making a change to something while keeping its essential character intact; an alteration or adjustment.

   behavior modification officer

4. 4
   noun

   A change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissable to offspring.

   Due to his sunbathing, Jim's body experienced modifications: he got a tan.

5. 5
   noun

   A change to a word when it is borrowed by another language.

   The Chinese word kòutóu had a modification made to become the English kowtow.

6. 6
   noun

   the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment)

7. 7
   noun

   slightly modified copy

8. 8
   noun

   an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

Etymology

From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication.