succession in WordNet English dictionary

1. a following of one thing after another in time
   "the doctor saw a sequence of patients"
   sequence  chronological sequence  succession  successiveness  chronological succession 
   
2. (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
   succession  ecological succession 
   
3. the action of following in order
   "he played the trumps in sequence"
   succession  sequence 
   
4. acquisition of property by descent or by will
   succession  taking over 
   
5. a group of people or things arranged or following in order
   "a succession of stalls offering soft drinks"; "a succession of failures"
   succession