An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Math.: A permutation of a set of elements that interchanges two elements and leaves the remaining elements in their original positions. For example, the swapping of 2 and 5 to take the list 123456 to 153426 is a transposition.
Optics: The changing of the relative curves of a lens without changing its refractive value.

See also: → trans-; → position.