Variation vs. Combination — What's the Difference?

A change or slight difference in condition, amount, or level, typically within certain limits

In mathematics, a combination is a selection of items from a collection, such that the order of selection does not matter (unlike permutations). For example, given three fruits, say an apple, an orange and a pear, there are three combinations of two that can be drawn from this set: an apple and a pear; an apple and an orange; or a pear and an orange.

A different or distinct form or version of something

The act of combining or the state of being combined.

The act, fact, or process of varying.

The result of combining.

The extent or degree to which something varies

An alliance of persons or parties for a common purpose; an association.

Something different from another of the same type

A sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock.

Magnetic declination.

(Mathematics) One or more elements selected from a set without regard to the order of selection.

(Biology) The existence within a species or other group of organisms of differences in form, function, or behavior, especially when hereditary.

The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining.

(Mathematics) A function that relates the values of one variable to those of other variables.

An object formed by combining.

A form that is an altered version of a given theme, diverging from it by melodic ornamentation and by changes in harmony, rhythm, or key.

A sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock.

One of a series of forms based on a single theme.

(mathematics) One or more elements selected from a set without regard to the order of selection.

A solo dance, especially one forming part of a larger work.

An association or alliance of people for some common purpose.

The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.

(billiards) A combination shot; a billiard; a shot where the cue ball hits a ball that strikes another ball on the table.

A related but distinct thing.

A motorcycle and sidecar.

(nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north.

A rapid sequence of punches or strikes in boxing or other combat sports.

(board games) A line of play that differs from the original.

The act or process of combining or uniting persons and things.

(music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground bass.

The result of combining or uniting; union of persons or things; esp. a union or alliance of persons or states to effect some purpose; - usually in a bad sense.

(genetics) The modification of a hereditary trait.

The act or process of uniting by chemical affinity, by which substances unite with each other in definite proportions by weight to form distinct compounds.

(astronomy) Deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly body.

The different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters, into groups.

The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alteration; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language.

A collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.

A coordinated sequence of chess moves

Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.

A sequence of numbers or letters that opens a combination lock;

Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity.

A group of people (often temporary) having a common purpose;

One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together.

An alliance of people or corporations or countries for a special purpose (formerly to achieve some antisocial end but now for general political or economic purposes)

An instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change

The act of arranging elements into specified groups without regard to order

An activity that varies from a norm or standard;

The act of combining things to form a new whole

A repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished

Something a little different from others of the same type;

An artifact that deviates from a norm or standard;

The angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north

(astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)

(biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration

(ballet) a solo dance or dance figure

The act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard;