sequence Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern
    • the sequence of names was alphabetical
    • he invented a technique to determine the sequence of base pairs in DNA
  2. noun a following of one thing after another in time
    chronological succession; succession; chronological sequence; successiveness.
    • the doctor saw a sequence of patients
  3. noun film consisting of a succession of related shots that develop a given subject in a movie
    episode.
  4. noun the action of following in order
    succession.
    • he played the trumps in sequence
  5. noun several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys
  6. verb arrange in a sequence
  7. verb determine the order of constituents in
    • They sequenced the human genome

WordNet

Se"quence noun
Etymology
F. séquence, L. sequentia, fr. sequens. See Sequent.
Definitions
  1. The state of being sequent; succession; order of following; arrangement.
    How art thou a king But by fair sequence and succession? Shak.
    Sequence and series of the seasons of the year. Bacon.
  2. That which follows or succeeds as an effect; sequel; consequence; result.
    The inevitable sequences of sin and punishment. Bp. Hall.
  3. (Philos.) Simple succession, or the coming after in time, without asserting or implying causative energy; as, the reactions of chemical agents may be conceived as merely invariable sequences.
  4. (Mus.) (a) Any succession of chords (or harmonic phrase) rising or falling by the regular diatonic degrees in the same scale; a succession of similar harmonic steps. (b) A melodic phrase or passage successively repeated one tone higher; a rosalia.
  5. (R.C.Ch.) A hymn introduced in the Mass on certain festival days, and recited or sung immediately before the gospel, and after the gradual or introit, whence the name. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
    Originally the sequence was called a Prose, because its early form was rhythmical prose. Shipley.
  6. (Card Playing) (a) (Whist) Three or more cards of the same suit in immediately consecutive order of value; as, ace, king, and queen; or knave, ten, nine, and eight. (b) (Poker) All five cards, of a hand, in consecutive order as to value, but not necessarily of the same suit; when of one suit, it is called a sequence flush. sequence is usu. called a run, and five are now called straight and straight flush

Webster 1913