permutation
Specific sequence variation
A permutation is an arrangement of items in a particular order, or the act of rearranging them.
In mathematics, it refers specifically to the number of ways a set of things can be ordered: The letters A, B, and C have six permutations.
More broadly, permutation describes any of the possible variations or forms something can take: We've tried every permutation of the lineup.
The word emphasizes that order matters—the same elements arranged differently count as different permutations.
Mix into disorder
- randomizeIntroduce disorder systematically
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- mixCombine different elements
- reorderArrange again or replenish
rearrange · disorder · reshuffle · anagram · interchange · swap · transpose · shift
Descending multiplication of integers
- combinatoricsMathematics of discrete enumeration
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- transpositionSwapping positions of elements
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
parity · inversion · group · symmetry · enumeration · algorithm · identity · mapping
To make different
- alterationAct of modifying
- modificationAct of altering something
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- reconfigurationChanging arrangement of parts
variation · mutation · shift · revision · reworking · adaptation · conversion · reshaping
Methodical arrangement or request
- orderingPlacing in sequence
- configurationArrangement of parts
- layoutSpatial arrangement of elements
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
pattern · placement · positioning · distribution · alignment · array · disposition · setup
scramble
Mix into disorder
- randomizeIntroduce disorder systematically
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- mixCombine different elements
reorder · rearrange · disorder · reshuffle · anagram · interchange · swap · transpose · shift · rotate
factorial
Descending multiplication of integers
- combinatoricsMathematics of discrete enumeration
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- transpositionSwapping positions of elements
cycle · parity · inversion · group · symmetry · enumeration · algorithm · identity · mapping · isomorphism
change
To make different
- alterationAct of modifying
- modificationAct of altering something
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
reconfiguration · variation · mutation · shift · revision · reworking · adaptation · conversion · reshaping · reformulation
order
Methodical arrangement or request
- orderingPlacing in sequence
- configurationArrangement of parts
- layoutSpatial arrangement of elements
sequence · pattern · placement · positioning · distribution · alignment · array · disposition · setup · organization
lock
Mechanism requiring a key
PIN · unlock · dial · password · digits · sequence · combination lock · keypad · vault · security
- mappingsmapping, isomorphism, function, injection, embedding
- SpeedcubingRoux, algorithm, layer by layer, lookahead, scramble
- math conceptsangle, numbers, algebra, circle, equations
- math termsnumbers, plus or minus, linear growth, square, operand
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- changeschange, shift, alter, transformation, modify
permutationinvariance
Quality of staying unchanged
fixed position · stasis · fixity · constancy · permanence
permutationconstancy
Unchanging faithfulness over time
permanence · fixity · immutability · stability · invariance