English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from French modification, from Latin modificatio (“a measuring”), from modificare (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify.
Pronunciation[edit]
modification (countable and uncountable, plural modifications)
- (obsolete, philosophy) The form of existence belonging to a particular object, entity etc.; a mode of being. [17th–19th c.]
- 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Penguin 2004, p. 72:
- Pleasure is the business of woman's life, according to the present modification of society […].
- (linguistics) the change undergone by a word when used in a construction (for instance am => 'm in I'm) [from 17th c.]
- The result of modifying something; a new or changed form. [from 17th c.]
- The act of making a change to something while keeping its essential character intact; an alteration or adjustment. [from 18th c.]
behavior modification officer
- Jim's modification to the radio's tuning resulted in clearer sound.
- (biology) A change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissable to offspring. [from 19th c.]
- Due to his sunbathing, Jim's body experienced modifications: he got a tan.
- (linguistics) a change to a word when it is borrowed by another language
- The Chinese word "kòu tóu" had a modification made to become the English "kowtow".
Translations[edit]
act or result of modifying or condition of being modified
the change undergone by a word when used in a construction
Further reading[edit]
Anagrams[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin modificātiō.
Pronunciation[edit]
modification f (plural modifications)
- modification
- Synonyms: altération, transformation
Further reading[edit]