modification

[ mod-uh-fi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of modifying.
2. the state of being modified; partial alteration.
3. a modified form; variety.
4. Biology. a change in a living organism acquired from its own activity or environment and not transmitted to its descendants.
5. limitation or qualification.
6. Grammar.
   1. the use of a modifier in a construction, or of modifiers in a class of constructions or in a language.
   2. the meaning of a modifier, especially as it affects the meaning of the word or other form modified:

      Limitation is one kind of modification.

   3. a change in the phonological shape of a morpheme, word, or other form when it functions as an element in a construction, as the change of not to -n't in doesn't.
   4. an adjustment in the form of a word as it passes from one language to another.

modification

/ ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of modifying or the condition of being modified
2. something modified; the result of a modification
3. a small change or adjustment
4. grammar the relation between a modifier and the word or phrase that it modifies

modification

/ mŏd′ə-fĭ-kā′shən /

1. A change in an organism that results from external influences and cannot be inherited.

Derived Forms

• ˈmodifiˌcatory, adjective

Other Words From

• inter·modi·fi·cation noun
• over·modi·fi·cation noun
• premod·i·fi·cation noun
• remod·i·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of modification¹

1495–1505; < Latin modificātiōn- (stem of modificātiō ), equivalent to modificāt ( us ) (past participle of modificāre; modify ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

"We have found nearly 7,000 genes that have the alternative transcription initiation within the coding sequences. These alternative transcription initiation sites tend to be tissue-specific and associated with histone modifications," Ma said.

From Science Daily

"This is a common modification we see in biology. However, we found that HGF loses its physiological activity when it becomes nitrated, and this phenomenon accumulates with age."

From Science Daily

Rohde, Long and their colleagues are exploring variants of this metal hydride MOF to see what other gases they can adsorb, and also modifications that will allow such materials to adsorb even more CO2.

From Science Daily

“If you assume that all home modifications are effective, you’re creating a false sense of security,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

This particular type of parmesan, which requires at least a year to mature, is created by following a process that has been in place, with little modification, for almost 1,000 years.

From BBC

Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion