sequence

[see-kwuh ns] /ˈsi kwəns/
noun
1.
the following of one thing after another; succession.
2.
order of succession:
a list of books in alphabetical sequence.
3.
a continuous or connected series:
a sonnet sequence.
4.
something that follows; a subsequent event; result; consequence.
5.
Music. a melodic or harmonic pattern repeated three or more times at different pitches with or without modulation.
6.
Liturgy. a hymn sometimes sung after the gradual and before the gospel; prose.
7.
Movies. a series of related scenes or shots, as those taking place in one locale or at one time, that make up one episode of the film narrative.
8.
Cards. a series of three or more cards following one another in order of value, especially of the same suit.
9.
Genetics. the linear order of monomers in a polymer, as nucleotides in DNA or amino acids in a protein.
10.
Mathematics. a set whose elements have an order similar to that of the positive integers; a map from the positive integers to a given set.
verb (used with object), sequenced, sequencing.
11.
to place in a sequence.
12.
Biochemistry. to determine the order of (chemical units in a polymer chain), especially nucleotides in DNA or RNA or amino acids in a protein.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Late Latin sequentia, equivalent to sequ- (stem of sequī to follow) + -entia -ence
Related forms
undersequence, noun
unsequenced, adjective
Synonyms
1. See series. 2. arrangement. 4. outcome, sequel.
Examples from the web for sequence
  • And since the series was fairly long, he had to find some way of distributing these images of his in a mental row or sequence.
  • But in mental life, the influences are so interwoven, that any definite sequence can but seldom be demonstrated.
  • The sequence could be phone interview, conference interview, campus visit.
  • The two experimenters alternated the presentation of the block problems according to a random sequence.
  • Publishers will reject an article organized around on the actual empirical sequence of discovery.
  • The final genes of the virus's genome sequence are being published this week.
  • Other photographs tell stories of a sequence of events.
  • The fragments produce a color readout that is translated into a genetic sequence.
  • Breeding season initiates a spectacular sequence of aerial acrobatics.
  • Still farther southwest is what would be, but no longer is, the third in a huge three-peak sequence.
British Dictionary definitions for sequence

sequence

/ˈsiːkwəns/
noun
1.
an arrangement of two or more things in a successive order
2.
the successive order of two or more things: chronological sequence
3.
a sequentially ordered set of related things or ideas
4.
an action or event that follows another or others
5.
  1. (cards) a set of three or more consecutive cards, usually of the same suit
  2. (bridge) a set of two or more consecutive cards
6.
(music) an arrangement of notes or chords repeated several times at different pitches
7.
(maths)
  1. an ordered set of numbers or other mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the integers 1 to n
  2. an ordered infinite set of mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers
8.
a section of a film constituting a single continuous uninterrupted episode
9.
(biochem) the unique order of amino acids in the polypeptide chain of a protein or of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of DNA or RNA
10.
(RC Church) another word for prose (sense 4)
verb (transitive)
11.
to arrange in a sequence
12.
(biochem) to determine the order of the units comprising (a protein, nucleic acid, genome, etc)
Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin sequentia that which follows, from Latin sequī to follow
Word Origin and History for sequence
n.

late 14c., "hymn sung after the Hallelujah and before the Gospel," from Old French sequence "answering verses" (13c.), from Medieval Latin sequentia "a following, a succession," from Latin sequentem (nominative sequens), present participle of sequi "to follow" (see sequel). In Church use, a partial loan-translation of Greek akolouthia, from akolouthos "following." General sense of "succession," also "a sequence at cards," appeared 1570s.

v.

"arrange in a sequence," 1954, from sequence (n.). Related: Sequenced; sequencing.

sequence in Medicine

sequence se·quence (sē'kwəns, -kwěns')
n.

  1. A following of one thing after another; succession.

  2. An order of succession; an arrangement.

  3. A related or continuous series.

  4. The order of constituents in a polymer, especially the order of nucleotides in a nucleic acid or of the amino acids in a protein.

v. se·quenced, se·quenc·ing, se·quenc·es

  1. To organize or arrange in a sequence.

  2. To determine the order of constituents in a polymer, such as a nucleic acid.

sequence in Science
sequence
  (sē'kwəns)   
Noun  

  1. A set of quantities ordered in the same manner as the positive integers, in which there is always the same relation between each quantity and the one succeeding it. A sequence can be finite, such as {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, or it can be infinite, such as {1, 1/2 , 1/3 , 1/4 , ... 1/n }. Also called progression.

  2. The order of subunits that make up a polymer, especially the order of nucleotides in a nucleic acid or of the amino acids in a protein.


Verb  To determine the order of subunits of a polymer.