TRANSI'TION, noun transizh'on. [Latin transitio.] Passage from one place or state to another; change; as the transition of the weather form hot to cold. Sudden transitions are sometimes attended with evil effects.

The spots are of the same color throughout, there being an immediate transition from white to black.

1. In rhetoric, a passing from one subject to another. This should be done by means of some connection in the parts of the discourse, so as to appear natural and easy.

He with transition sweet new speech resumes.

2. In music, a change of key from major to minor, or the contrary; or in short, a change from any one genus or key to another; also, the softening of a disjunct interval by the introduction of intermediate sounds.

Transition rocks, in geology, rocks supposed to have been formed when the world was passing from an uninhabitable to a habitable state. These rocks contain few organic remains, and when they occur with others, lie immediately over those which contain none, and which are considered as primitive.