sequence

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sequence/ˈsiːkwəns/

▶noun

• 1 a particular order in which related events, movements, etc., follow each other.

  ■ Music a repetition of a phrase or melody at a higher or lower pitch.

  ■ Biochemistry the order in which amino-acid or nucleotide residues are arranged in a protein, DNA, etc.

• 2 a set of related events, movements, etc., that follow each other in a particular order.

  ■ a set of three or more playing cards of the same suit next to each other in value.

• 3 a part of a film dealing with one particular event or topic.

• 4 (in the Eucharist) a hymn said or sung after the Gradual or Alleluia that precedes the Gospel.

▶verb

• 1 arrange in a sequence.

• 2 play or record (music) with a sequencer.

• 3 Biochemistry ascertain the sequence of amino-acid or nucleotide residues in (a protein, DNA, etc.).

– origin ME: from late L. sequentia, from L. sequent-, sequi ‘to follow’.