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Who was the first European to describe the Fibonacci sequence of numbers?

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sequence

American  

[see-kwuhns] / ˈsi kwəns /

noun

• sequences
  plural

1. the following of one thing after another; succession.

2. order of succession.

   a list of books in alphabetical sequence.

   Synonyms:

   arrangement

3. a continuous or connected series.

   a sonnet sequence.

4. something that follows; a subsequent event; result; consequence.

   Synonyms:

   sequel, outcome

5. Music. a melodic or harmonic pattern repeated three or more times at different pitches with or without modulation.

6. Liturgy. a hymn sometimes sung after the gradual and before the gospel; prose.

7. Movies. a series of related scenes or shots, as those taking place in one locale or at one time, that make up one episode of the film narrative.

8. Cards. a series of three or more cards following one another in order of value, especially of the same suit.

9. Genetics. the linear order of monomers in a polymer, as nucleotides in DNA or amino acids in a protein.

10. Mathematics. a set whose elements have an order similar to that of the positive integers; a map from the positive integers to a given set.

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verb (used with object)

• sequences,
  present (3rd person singular)
• sequenced,
  past participle,  past
• sequencing
  present participle

1. to place in a sequence.

2. Biochemistry. to determine the order of (chemical units in a polymer chain), especially nucleotides in DNA or RNA or amino acids in a protein.

sequence British  

/ ˈsiːkwəns /

noun

1. an arrangement of two or more things in a successive order

2. the successive order of two or more things

   chronological sequence

3. a sequentially ordered set of related things or ideas

4. an action or event that follows another or others

5. 1. cards a set of three or more consecutive cards, usually of the same suit

   2. bridge a set of two or more consecutive cards

6. music an arrangement of notes or chords repeated several times at different pitches

7. maths

   1. an ordered set of numbers or other mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the integers 1 to n

   2. an ordered infinite set of mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers

8. a section of a film constituting a single continuous uninterrupted episode

9. biochem the unique order of amino acids in the polypeptide chain of a protein or of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of DNA or RNA

10. RC Church another word for prose

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verb

1. to arrange in a sequence

2. biochem to determine the order of the units comprising (a protein, nucleic acid, genome, etc)

sequence Scientific  

/ sē′kwəns /

1. A set of quantities ordered in the same manner as the positive integers, in which there is always the same relation between each quantity and the one succeeding it. A sequence can be finite, such as {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, or it can be infinite, such as {1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, … 1/n}.

2. Also called progression

3. The order of subunits that make up a polymer, especially the order of nucleotides in a nucleic acid or of the amino acids in a protein.

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1. To determine the order of subunits of a polymer.

Synonym Usage

See series.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undersequence
  noun
• unsequenced
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sequences
  plural

Participles

• sequencing
  present
• sequenced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sequence
  simple
• sequences
  simple
• have sequenced
  perfect
• has sequenced
  perfect
• am sequencing
  progressive
• are sequencing
  progressive
• is sequencing
  progressive
• have been sequencing
  perfect progressive
• has been sequencing
  perfect progressive

Past

• sequenced
  simple
• had sequenced
  perfect
• was sequencing
  progressive
• were sequencing
  progressive
• had been sequencing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sequence
  simple
• will have sequenced
  perfect
• will be sequencing
  progressive
• will have been sequencing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of sequence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin sequentia, equivalent to sequ- (stem of sequī “to follow”) + -entia noun suffix; see -ence

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Explanation

When things come in sequence, they come in a specific order. It could be a chronological sequence, a sequence following a pattern (red-blue-brown, red-blue-brown), or a cause-and-effect sequence. Sequence can also be a verb. When you sequence something, you put it in order. The prom committee had the task of sequencing dance music––even if playing "Celebrate" as the final dance and not the first felt out of sequence to the DJ, it was their call.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sequence sequences sequenced sequencing

Talks have focused on how to sequence fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and handle negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

November's event is particularly noteworthy because it begins a sequence of three consecutive supermoons.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

There is a particular little sequence to my autumn evenings that I’ve come to adore.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

The judges said they had compared the opening episode scripts for the two shows and found sufficient similarities in plot, themes, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters, graphic injury detail and sequence of events.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

This message had been embedded in the log-in sequence by James Halliday himself, when he’d first programmed the OASIS, as an homage to the simulation’s direct ancestors, the coin-operated videogames of his youth.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

In this role, Bellingham drove into the final third with pace and showed intensity during pressing sequences.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

For example, there’s a sizable gap between the one-shot montage sequences in “TV Glow” and “Camp Miasma.”

From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026

In one of the film’s pivotal sequences, Fielder stages a reenactment, based on his recollections, of a meeting with Evans, Holmes, Oppenheim and two A24 executives.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

In time Mr. Quan pivoted successfully to choreographing action sequences for film and television before deciding at almost 50 that he wanted to return to acting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Only by the most special pleading could I imagine the polynucleotide backbone bending enough to accommodate irregular base sequences.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

They also cultivated spores under laboratory conditions to examine the fungus's physical characteristics and sequenced its genome, including its protein-coding genes.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

He then sequenced the genetic material and carefully analyzed the extensive data to determine which microbes and genes became especially abundant as the bioplastics decomposed.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Even before the human genome was fully sequenced, the biologist Sydney Brenner said that with a complete DNA sequence and a sufficiently large computer, he could “compute the organism.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

A patient’s tumor is surgically removed and then sequenced, allowing researchers to figure out which mutated proteins are expressed on the cancer cells.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

Behind the wall is a world of dark lines and streaks of light, sequenced into detailed patterns.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

“RMS expects production to increase quarter-on-quarter with higher grade mine sequencing planned at both Dalgaranga and Cue,” which should reduce costs, Redfern says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Genetic sequencing revealed 17 species within the group, including four species previously unknown to science.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing allowed them to examine patterns of gene activity in individual cell nuclei.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

That’s a tricky decision to make, because the criteria for impactful album sequencing are not at all the same for a live show.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

Movement and rhymes build cognitive abilities in terms of sequencing physical and linguistic activity, imitation, and internalization.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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Related Words

• arrangement
• array
• progression
• string

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