modification

n. [ L. modificatio a measuring: cf. F. modification. See Modify. ] 1. The act of modifying, or the state of being modified; a change; as, the modification of an opinion, or of a machine. Bentley.
Syn. -- change, alteration, adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something which has been modified; a modified form or condition; state as modified; as, the various modifications of light; the latest modification of the operating system crashes less frequently.
Syn. -- model{ 8 }. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. (Gram.) The alteration of the meaning of a word or phrase by another word or phrase; -- usually a restriction of the scope of the word modified; as, in the phrase “a billion dollars is a relatively small sum to spend on cancer research” the modification of small by relatively is needed to make the sentence accurate, rather than ludicrous. [ PJC ]