migration
UK: maɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n | US: maɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n
n. the movement of people or animals from one place to another, often seasonally or for permanent settlement
n. (computing) the process of transferring data or software from one system to another
The word "migration" traces back to the Latin verb migrare, meaning "to move from one place to another." The suffix -ation was added in Middle English via Old French, turning the action into a noun. This reflects the word's core logic: a structured movement (physical or abstract) from an origin to a destination. Historically, it described seasonal animal movements (e.g., birds), later expanding to human relocation and technological processes like data transfer.
The annual bird migration across continents is a marvel of nature.
Rural-to-urban migration has increased rapidly in developing countries.
The software migration to the new platform took three months.
Scientists track whale migrations using satellite tags.
War and climate change often force mass migrations.