Main Entry: equa·tion

Pronunciation: \i-ˈkwā-zhən also -shən\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 a : the act or process of equating b (1) : an element affecting a process : factor (2) : a complex of variable factors c : a state of being equated; specifically : a state of close association or identification <bring governmental enterprises and payment for them into immediate equation — R. G. Tugwell>
2 a : a usually formal statement of the equality or equivalence of mathematical or logical expressions b : an expression representing a chemical reaction quantitatively by means of chemical symbols