noun

• (obsolete, philosophy) The form of existence belonging to a particular object, entity etc.; a mode of being.
• (linguistics) the change undergone by a word when used in a construction (for instance am => 'm in I'm)
• The result of modifying something; a new or changed form.
• The act of making a change to something while keeping its essential character intact; an alteration or adjustment.
• (biology) A change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissable to offspring.
• (linguistics) a change to a word when it is borrowed by another language