Definition of mutation in English:

noun

• 1The action or process of mutating.

  ‘the mutation of cooking into a form of show business’

  ‘his first novel went through several mutations’

  Synonyms

  alteration, change, variation, modification, transformation, metamorphosis, transmutation, transfiguration, sea change, evolution

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• 2The changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes.

  ‘mutation is, ultimately, the only way in which new variation enters the species’

  Synonyms

  alteration, change, variation, modification, transformation, metamorphosis, transmutation, transfiguration, sea change, evolution

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  1. 2.1A distinct form resulting from a change in the structure of a gene.
     ‘whether his goats were a new mutation or part of an older breed remains unclear’
     Synonyms

     mutant, variant, variation, freak, freak of nature, deviant, monstrosity, monster, deformity

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• 3Linguistics
  Regular change of a sound when it occurs adjacent to another.

  1. 3.1(in Germanic languages) the process by which the quality of a vowel was altered in certain phonetic contexts; umlaut.
  2. 3.2(in Celtic languages) change of an initial consonant in a word caused (historically) by the preceding word.
     See also lenition