sequence

Everyday

1. A set of things that come one after another in a certain order. tree →
2. (maths) A list of numbers or shapes that follow a rule (2, 4, 6, 8 …). tree →
3. The order in which things happen (put the pictures in sequence). tree →
4. A part of a film or a story showing connected events. tree →
5. (verb) To put things in order; (science) to find the order of parts in DNA. tree →

In the lessons

Very common in maths: number sequences, finding the rule, the next term, the nth term. In English, sequencing events in a story; in computing, a sequence of instructions. Phrases: «in sequence», «out of sequence», «a sequence of», «the next number in the sequence».

Examples

• What is the next number in the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12? tree →
• Put the story pictures in the right sequence. tree →
• The sequence goes up by 5 each time. tree →
• A computer follows a sequence of instructions. tree →
• The film has an exciting chase sequence. tree →
• The pages are out of sequence. tree →
• Scientists sequenced the virus's genes. tree →
• But I have in one case altered the sequence of events putting the fight with the giant last." tree →

Note

Countable. Each number in a sequence is a «term». In maths: find the rule by looking at the difference between terms (5, 8, 11: add 3 each time; the next term is 14). A sequence has an order; a set does not.