An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. A theory which studies how, in certain nonlinear systems, there may be paths and shifts in behavior dependent on small changes in circumstances or the current position of the system.
   

2. Math.: The study of the behavior of a solution of a nonlinear problem in the neighborhood of a known solution, particularly as a parameter varies.

See also: → bifurcation; → theory.