selection
English meaning: Selection
Definition
A process by which heritable traits conferring survival and reproductive advantage to individuals, or related individuals, tend to be passed on to succeeding generations and become more frequent in a population, whereas other less favourable traits tend to become eliminated; the differential survival and reproduction of phenotypes.
Example
“The shop offers a wide selection of teas from around the world.”
Another example: “Her selection for the national squad surprised many fans.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral noun for the act of choosing, the thing chosen, or a range to choose from ('a wide selection'). In biology, 'natural selection'. Common across everyday, commercial, and scientific registers.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'selectio' ('a choosing out'), from 'seligere' ('to select'), from 'se-' ('apart') + 'legere' ('to gather'), in English from the 17th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- natural selection
- wide selection
- make a selection
- selection process
- team selection
Word Forms
select (v); selected; selecting; selection (n); selective (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B