Definition

1. Noun:

   • A particular order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other: A "sequence" refers to a specific arrangement where items come one after another in a logical or chronological pattern.
   • A set of related events, actions, or items that follow each other in a particular order: It can also describe the resulting series itself.
   • A part of a film dealing with one particular event or topic: In film, a "sequence" is a series of related shots that form a distinct narrative unit.
   • A repetition of a phrase or melody at a higher or lower pitch: In music, it is the immediate restatement of a motif in a different pitch.

2. Verb:

   • To arrange in a particular order: To "sequence" something means to put it into a specific, often logical, order.
   • To determine the order of constituents in a biological polymer: In biochemistry, it means to establish the precise order of components, such as nucleotides in DNA or amino acids in a protein.

Examples of Usage

• Noun: The book describes the strange sequence of events that led to the discovery. The opening sequence of the movie is breathtaking. He explained the sequence of operations needed to assemble the machine. A sequence of numbers appeared on the screen.

• Verb: The tasks must be carefully sequenced for maximum efficiency. Scientists have now sequenced the genome of this rare plant.

Advanced Usage

• In sequence: One after another in the correct order.
• Out of sequence: Not in the correct order.

Variants and Related Words

• Sequential (adj): Forming or following in a logical order or sequence.
• Sequencer (n): A device or program for arranging items in a sequence, especially music or genetic data.

Synonyms

• Series: A number of things, events, or people of a similar kind coming one after another.
• Succession: A number of people or things following one after the other.
• Progression: The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.

Related Phrases

• Sequence of tenses: (Grammar) The dependence of the tense of a subordinate verb on the tense of the verb in the main clause.

Idioms

• A sequence of events: The chronological order in which events happened.

Noun

1. several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys
2. the action of following in order
   • he played the trumps in sequence
3. film consisting of a succession of related shots that develop a given subject in a movie
4. a following of one thing after another in time
   • the doctor saw a sequence of patients
5. 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

Verb

1. determine the order of constituents in
   • They sequenced the human genome
2. arrange in a sequence