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Nuance vs Variation - What's the difference?

nuance | variation |

As nouns the difference between nuance and variation

is that nuance is a minor distinction while variation is the act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.

nuance

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A minor distinction.
  • Subtlety or fine detail.
    • Understanding the basics is easy; appreciating the nuances takes years.
  • * 1901: Alpheus Spring Packard, Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution
    • ...the richer our collections become, the more numerous are the proofs that all is more or less shaded (nuance ), that the remarkable differences become obliterated...

    Derived terms

    * nuanced

    variation

    English

    (wikipedia variation)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= David Van Tassel], [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/lee-dehaan Lee DeHaan
    • , title= Wild Plants to the Rescue , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Plant breeding is always a numbers game.
  • A related but distinct thing.
  • (nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination.
  • (board games) A line of play that differs from the original.
  • (music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground bass.

    • Derived terms

    * magnetic variation * theme and variations

    Related terms

    * vary * variant

    References

    * US FM 55-501 MARINE CREWMAN’S HANDBOOK; 1 December 1999 * * ----