re·gres·sion

[ri-gresh-uhn]
noun
1.
the act of going back to a previous place or state; return or reversion.
2.
retrogradation; retrogression.
3.
Biology. reversion to an earlier or less advanced state or form or to a common or general type.
4.
Psychoanalysis. the reversion to a chronologically earlier or less adapted pattern of behavior and feeling.
5.
a subsidence of a disease or its manifestations: a regression of symptoms.
adjective
6.
of, pertaining to, or determined by regression analysis: regression curve; regression equation.
00:10
Regression is always a great word to know.
So is yellow-green algae. Does it mean:
pertaining to the production of or tending to produce male offspring
single-celled colonial algae occurring in soil and on moist rocks and vegetation and also as a slime or scum on ponds and stagnant waters
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Origin:
1510–20; < Latin regressiōn- (stem of regressiō). See regress, -ion

Related forms
non·re·gres·sion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
regression (rɪˈɡrɛʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  psychol the adoption by an adult or adolescent of behaviour more appropriate to a child, esp as a defence mechanism to avoid anxiety
2.  statistics
 a.  the analysis or measure of the association between one variable (the dependent variable) and one or more other variables (the independent variables), usually formulated in an equation in which the independent variables have parametric coefficients, which may enable future values of the dependent variable to be predicted
 b.  (as modifer): regression curve
3.  astronomy the slow movement around the ecliptic of the two points at which the moon's orbit intersects the ecliptic. One complete revolution occurs about every 19 years
4.  geology the retreat of the sea from the land
5.  the act of regressing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

regression re·gres·sion (rĭ-grěsh'ən)
n.

  1. A subsidence of the symptoms of a disease.

  2. A relapse of symptoms.

  3. Reversion to an earlier or less mature pattern of feeling or behavior.

  4. Relapse to a less perfect or developed state.

  5. The return of a population to an earlier or less complex physical type in successive generations.

  6. The relationship between the mean value of a random variable and the corresponding values of one or more independent variables.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
regression   (rĭ-grěsh'ən)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A subsiding of the symptoms or process of a disease.

  2. The return of a population to an earlier or less complex physical type in successive generations.

  3. The relationship between the mean value of a random variable and the corresponding values of one or more independent variables.

  4. A relative fall in sea level resulting in deposition of terrestrial strata over marine strata. Compare transgression.

  5. Retrograde motion of a celestial body.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

regression definition


A Freudian concept used by psychiatrists to signify a return to primitive or impulsive behavior after more mature behavior has been learned. (See also defense mechanism, id, and libido.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

regression definition


1. A mathematical method where an empirical function is derived from a set of experimental data.
2. regression testing.
(1995-03-14)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
Regression to mean doesn't seem particularly satisfying as an explanation when
  the results meet the standard statistical tests.
Wise, yes, but it is after this role that this progression of roles actually
  diverges into a regression of roles.
Infinite regression, circular reasoning, reduction to absurdity.
The same regression has affected even countries that appeared to take the
  boldest steps toward change.
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