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selectional

 - 4 dictionary results

se⋅lec⋅tion

  [si-lek-shuhn]
Use selectional in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act or instance of selecting or the state of being selected; choice.
2. a thing or a number of things selected.
3. an aggregate of things displayed for choice, purchase, use, etc.; a group from which a choice may be made: The store had a wide selection of bracelets.
4. Biology. any natural or artificial process that results in differential reproduction among the members of a population so that the inheritable traits of only certain individuals are passed on, or are passed on in greater proportion, to succeeding generations. Compare natural selection, sexual selection, kin selection, artificial selection.
5. Linguistics.
a. the choice of one form instead of another in a position where either can occur, as of ask instead of tell or with in the phrase ask me.
b. the choice of one semantic or syntactic class of words in a construction, to the exclusion of others that do not occur there, as the choice of an animate object for the verb surprise.
Origin:
1640–50; < L sēlēctiōn- (s. of sēlēctiō), equiv. to sēlēct(us) (see select ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
se⋅lec⋅tion⋅al, adjective

Synonyms:
2. collection, gathering, pick.

Antonyms:
1. rejection.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To selectional
se·lec·tion·ist   (sĭ-lěk'shə-nĭst)   
adj.   also se·lec·tion·al (-shə-nəl)
Of or relating to the view that evolution or genetic variation occurs chiefly as a result of natural selection.
n.  One who holds or favors a selectionist view.
se·lec'tion·ism n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: se·lec·tion
Pronunciation: s&-'lek-sh&n
Function: noun
: a natural or artificial process that results or tends to result inthe survival and propagation of some individuals or organisms but not of others with the result that the inherited traits of the survivors are perpetuated —compare DARWINISM, NATURAL SELECTION
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

selection se·lec·tion (sĭ-lěk'shən)
n.
A natural or artificial process that favors or induces survival and perpetuation of one kind of organism over others that die or fail to produce offspring.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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