| 释义 |
evo·lu·tion
\ˌevəˈlüshən also ˌēv- or -vəlˈyü-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Latin evolution-, evolutio act of unrolling, from evolutus + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. : a series of related changes in a certain direction : process of change : organic development : unfolding, movement, transformation
< the evolution of his hair has been from brown to gray, to bald — Current Biography >
< the evolution of a complicated plot >
< it should be remembered that even in the biological world, evolution is not always in the direction of progress — A.B.Novikoff >
< the evolution of the seasons >
< there has been much discussion as to … the possible evolution of benign adenomas into invasive carcinoma — Journal American Medical Association >
b.
(1) : a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse condition to a higher, more complex, or better state : progressive development : growth, progress
< the evolution of the capitalist forms of business organization, from primitive units to the modern corporation — W.C.Scoville >
< the evolution from childhood to manhood >
< the evolution of physics from Galileo to Einstein >
< the evolution of the rifle >
(2) : a process of gradual and relatively peaceful social, political, and economic advance or amelioration — often contrasted with revolution
< a British pattern of change by evolution … which contrasts with less attractive changes by revolution in other countries — Current History >
c. : the end product of an evolutionary process : something that is evolved
< economically it is an evolution of the ancient system of barter — Encyc. Americana >
< the style of the King James version … is … an evolution …, the resultant of a long selective process — J.L.Lowes >
2. : one of a set of prescribed movements or motions (as those of a skater, dancer, a body of troops, a fleet, or other formation) : any movement designed to effect a new arrangement by passing from one position to another : maneuver
< evolutions of the eight pink bridesmaids and the eight black ushers — Edith Wharton >
3. : the process of working out or developing (as an idea, design, or theme)
< the greatest task facing agricultural scientists in this region is the evolution of an adaptable farming system — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa) >
4. mathematics : the extraction of roots — opposed to involution
5.
a.
(1) archaic : the development of an organism by gradual unfolding of parts (as in the growth of a plant from a seed)
(2) : the presumed process of development in which a germ containing the adult parts in miniature was stimulated to differentiate by the action of fertilization — opposed to epigenesis; compare encasement
b. : the development of a race, species, or other group : phylogeny : the process by which through a series of changes or steps any living organism or group of organisms has acquired the morphological and physiological characters which distinguish it : the theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types, the distinguishable differences being due to modifications in successive generations — compare darwinism, heredity, mutation, natural selection, variation, weismannism
6.
a. : the progressive development of civilization and social institutions in a fixed sequence of stages — called also unilinear evolution; see evolutionism
b. : a process of cultural change determined especially by technological factors and marked by a movement from simplicity to complexity and the gradual increase of man's control over his environment
7.
a. : the process of the whole universe conceived as a progression of interrelated phenomena
b. : the theory of such progression — compare emergent evolution, spencerianism |