In`te*gra"tion (&ibreve;n`t&esl;*grā"shŭn),
n. [L. integratio a renewing, restoring: cf.
F. intégration.]
1. The act or process of making whole or
entire.
2. (Math.) The operation of finding
the primitive function which has a given function for its
differential coefficient. See Integral.
&fist; The symbol of integration is &integral2l; (standing for the
Latin summa sum), and the integral is also regarded as the
limiting value of the sum of great numbers of differentials, when the
magnitude of the differentials decreases, and their number increases
indefinitely. See Limit, n. When the
summation is made between specified values of the variable, the
result is a definite integral, and those values of the
variable are the limits of the integral. When the summation is made
successively for two or more variables, the result is a multiple
integral.
3. In the theory of evolution: The process by
which the manifold is compacted into the relatively simple and
permanent. It is supposed to alternate with differentiation as an
agent in development.
