1. Act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group
   "The researcher tested every possible permutation of the experimental variables"
    
2. The act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements
   "The magician performed a series of permutations with the cards"
    
3. An event in which one thing is substituted for another
   "The last-minute permutation in the lineup surprised everyone";
   - substitution, transposition, replacement, switch
    
4. Complete change in character or condition
   "the permutations … taking place in the physical world"

Derived forms: permutations

Type of: fluctuation, mathematical operation, mathematical process, operation, reordering, transformation, translation, variation

Encyclopedia: Permutation