The word evolution has many meanings. This noun first came into use around the year 1600 and was derived from the Latin word evolute, which means "unrolling." The term evolution eventually came to mean small changes that took place over a long period of time. The word is used to describe many kinds of things that change in a gradual way: for example, the slowly evolving design of the airplane, or the skill of an artist whose work evolves year after year from one style to another. Evolution may refer to a gradual and progressive change in society, such as the evolution of religious beliefs or the way in which the government works. Yet, in science, the term evolution has a more specific and precise meaning.
Evolution is a term used in biology. It refers to gradual changes that take place in generation after generation of a species of organism. In scientific terms, evolution is not just a noun with many meanings—it is a theory.
Holmes, T 2017 'Building Blocks of Evolution', Evolution, 2nd edn, Chelsea House, Broomall, PA.
