From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishevolutionev‧o‧lu‧tion /ˌiːvəˈluːʃən, ˌevə- $ ˌevə-/ ●○○ AWL noun [uncountable] 1 HBthe scientific idea that plants and animals develop and change gradually over a long period of timeevolution of the evolution of mammals the theory of evolution2 DEVELOPthe gradual change and development of an idea, situation, or objectevolution of the evolution of the computerCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the scientific idea that plants and animals develop and change gradually over a long period of timeverbsevolution happens/takes place (also evolution occurs formal)We can see signs of evolution taking place in the world around us.trace something's evolution (=find the origins of when an animal, plant etc began or where it came from)Anthropologists can trace the evolution of plants and animals by examining fossils.adjectiveshuman evolutionOur ancestors reached a key stage in human evolution when they began to stand up straight.biological evolutionEvery living creature has been formed by the slow process of biological evolution.physical evolutionThe environment plays a large part in the physical evolution of the species.Darwinian evolution (=based on the ideas of Charles Darwin)He expounded the theory that language is the product of Darwinian evolution.phrasesthe theory of evolutionMany Christians find it impossible to accept Darwin's theory of evolution. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the gradual change and development of an idea, situation, or objectadjectivesgradual/continuous evolutionThe social system is undergoing continuous evolution to adapt to these rapid changes.cultural/social evolutionNeither cultural or social evolution is any guarantee that we are moving towards a better world.political evolutionPrime Minister Nehru played a significant role in the political evolution of India.technological evolutionThe pace of technological evolution is getting faster all the time.verbsevolution takes place (also evolution occurs formal) (=happens)A similar evolution was taking place in other great American cities.trace something's evolution (=find the origins of when something began or where it came from)The show traced the evolution of black American music from gospel through soul to hip-hop
Examples from the Corpus
evolution• Neither found Darwin's detailed theory of adaptive evolution very useful.• The process of biological evolution has taken billions of years.• The genetic theory postulates two modes of evolution.• The next chapter describes the evolution of the International Monetary System.• This ability to live off poor vegetation is likely to have been crucial in the evolution of the mountain goat.• Only by involving every group in the evolution of these structures can problems be avoided.• The table below shows the evolution of the English alphabet.• The extent and nature of migration is discussed with reference to the evolution of local labour markets.• Deplorable though that seems, such acts help to understand the evolution of behaviour.• Cultural and social anthropology was then concerned with the evolution of human society and culture.• The Berlin Philharmonic, founded in 1882, has grown up in tandem with the evolution of the star conductor.theory of evolution• It is now possible to summarize the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution.• Charles Darwin, in his theory of evolution by means of natural selection, stressed the role of competition.• No wonder his theory of evolution remains, today, a visceral point of contention.• This second approach relies heavily on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.• Contrary to popular myth Darwin was not thunderstruck by the theory of evolution during his voyage on the Beagle.• But science has good answers to these challenges to the theory of evolution.• The theory of evolution by natural selection reached out far beyond biology, and therein lies its significance.• The theory of evolution has to do much more than that. 