modification

American  

[mod-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌmɒd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

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 British  

/ 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 Scientific  

/ mŏd′ə-fĭ-kā′shən /

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

---

Other Word Forms

• intermodification noun
• modificatory adjective
• overmodification noun
• premodification noun
• remodification noun

Etymology

Origin of modification

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

Example Sentences

Using a systems level analysis of proteins, the researchers discovered that many proteins connected to the mTOR pathway were affected by this modification.

From Science Daily

Once a bike crosses those thresholds through design or modification it is treated as an e-motorcycle and subject to the same requirements as a traditional motorcycle: a valid license, registration, insurance and a license plate.

From Los Angeles Times

These include a protein modification process known as UFMylation and enzymes that help build membrane anchors within cells.

From Science Daily

As part of the new amendments, intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency would also not be able to use OpenAI's system without a "follow-on modification" to the contract.

From BBC

Meanwhile, Kalshi angered some users when it made modifications to a market on whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would soon leave office.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion