'Permutation' definitions:

Definition of 'permutation'

From: WordNet
noun
An event in which one thing is substituted for another; "the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood" [syn: substitution, permutation, transposition, replacement, switch]
noun
The act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements
noun
Complete change in character or condition; "the permutations...taking place in the physical world"- Henry Miller
noun
Act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group

Definition of 'Permutation'

From: GCIDE
  • Permutation \Per`mu*ta"tion\ (p[~e]r`m[-u]"t[=a]"sn[u^]n), n. [L. permutatio: cf. F. permutation. See Permute.]
  • 1. The act of permuting; exchange of the thing for another; mutual transference; interchange. [1913 Webster]
  • The violent convulsions and permutations that have been made in property. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Math.) (a) The arrangement of any determinate number of things, as units, objects, letters, etc., in all possible orders, one after the other; -- called also alternation. Cf. Combination, n., 4. (b) Any one of such possible arrangements. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Law) Barter; exchange. [1913 Webster]
  • Permutation lock, a lock in which the parts can be transposed or shifted, so as to require different arrangements of the tumblers on different occasions of unlocking. [1913 Webster]