Main Entry: per·mu·ta·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌpər-myü-ˈtā-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English permutacioun exchange, transformation, from Anglo-French, from Latin permutation-, permutatio, from permutare

Date: 14th century

1 : often major or fundamental change (as in character or condition) based primarily on rearrangement of existent elements <the system has gone through several permutations>; also : a form or variety resulting from such change <technology available in various permutations>
2 a : the act or process of changing the lineal order of an ordered set of objects b : an ordered arrangement of a set of objects

— per·mu·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective