adaptation

A process of genetic change in a population whereby, as a result of natural selection, the average state of a character becomes improved with reference to a specific function, or whereby a population is thought to have become better suited to some feature of its environment. Also, a feature that has become prevalent in a population because of a selective advantage conveyed by that feature in the improvement in some function.

A phenotypic trait that has evolved to help an organism cope with an environmental challenge or to increase its mating success.