succession
n 1: a following of one thing after another in time; "the doctor
saw a sequence of patients" [syn: {sequence}, {chronological
sequence}, {successiveness}, {chronological succession}]
2: a group of people or things arranged or following in order:
"a succession of stalls offering soft drinks"
3: the action of following in order: "he played the trumps in
sequence" [syn: {sequence}]
4: (ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an
ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of
one community by another until a stable climax is
established [syn: {ecological succession}]
5: acquisition of property by descent or by will [syn: {taking
over}]