An action (or series of actions) that, when performed, automatically selects a preferred outcome of several possible outcomes, depending on the actions of other actors.

(evolutionary theory) A process by which heritable traits conferring survival and reproductive advantage to individuals, or related individuals, tend to be passed on to succeeding generations and become more frequent in a population, whereas other less favourable traits tend to become eliminated; the differential survival and reproduction of phenotypes.

(physics) Any of several general rules concerning the transitions between the states of a quantum mechanical system; they derive from the symmetry properties of the states and of their interactions

(US, basketball) The Monday in March on which the teams that participate in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament are selected.

(biology, evolution) A form of natural selection whereby traits that may be disadvantageous to the individual can be propagated when they are advantageous to the survival of a group as a whole.

plural of selection sort

(computing theory) A sorting algorithm that divides the input list into two sublists — items already sorted, and items not yet sorted — and gradually transfers elements from one list to the other.

A form of natural selection in which extreme values for a trait are favored over intermediate values, causing subpopulations of a single species within the same habitat to develop different adaptations.

(evolutionary theory) A type of natural selection where members of the sexes acquire distinct forms either because the members of one sex choose mates with particular features or because in the competition for mates among the members of one sex only those with certain traits succeed.

plural of Selection Sunday