evolution
n. C / Un. the slow process of change and development over a long period of time. In nature, it describes how plants and animals adapt over millions of years to survive. You can also use it to talk about how ideas or technology grow from simple to complex.
n. the gradual process of development and change, typically from a simple to a more complex state. In the biological sciences, it describes the genetic adaptation of species over successive generations driven by natural selection.
The evolution of mobile phones has completely changed how we communicate.
The museum exhibit traces the evolution of flight, showing how early gliders slowly developed into modern jet planes.
Darwin's theory of evolution fundamentally shifted our understanding of the natural world, proposing that all life shares a common ancestor and adapts through environmental pressures.
Borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnis (“the act of unrolling, unfolding or opening (of a book)”), from ēvolūtus, perfect passive participle of ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ex + volvō (“roll”). Compare typologically Czech vývoj, Serbo-Croatian развој, Russian разви́ть (razvítʹ), развива́ть (razvivátʹ), разви́ться (razvítʹsja), развива́ться (razvivátʹsja), Russian разви́тие (razvítije), related to Proto-Slavic *viti (whence Czech vít, Russian вить (vitʹ)).
Uncountable when referring to the general biological process; countable when describing a specific instance or pattern of development.