variable









variable


adjective

  1. apt or liable to vary or change; changeable: variable weather; variable moods.
  2. capable of being varied or changed; alterable: a variable time limit for completion of a book.
  3. inconstant; fickle: a variable lover.
  4. having much variation or diversity.
  5. Biology. deviating from the usual type, as a species or a specific character.
  6. Astronomy. (of a star) changing in brightness.
  7. Meteorology. (of wind) tending to change in direction.
  8. Mathematics. having the nature or characteristics of a variable.

noun

  1. something that may or does vary or change; a variable feature or factor.
  2. Mathematics, Computers.
    1. a quantity or function that may assume any given value or set of values.
    2. a symbol that represents this.
  3. Logic. (in the functional calculus) a symbol for an unspecified member of a class of things or statements.Compare bound variable, free variable.
  4. Astronomy. variable star.
  5. Meteorology.
    1. a shifting wind, especially as distinguished from a trade wind.
    2. variables,doldrums(def 2a).

adjective

  1. liable to or capable of changevariable weather
  2. (of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle
  3. maths having a range of possible values
  4. (of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the established type
  5. (of a wind) varying its direction and intensity
  6. (of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such as resistance, can be variedvariable capacitor

noun

  1. something that is subject to variation
  2. maths
    1. an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values
    2. a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etcSee also dependent variable, independent variable
  3. logic a symbol, esp x, y, z, representing any member of a class of entities
  4. computing a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values during execution of a program
  5. astronomy See variable star
  6. a variable wind
  7. (plural) a region where variable winds occur
adj.

late 14c., of persons, from Old French variable, from Latin variabilis “changeable,” from variare “to change” (see vary). Of weather, seasons, etc., attested from late 15c.; of stars, from 1788.

n.

“quantity that can vary in value,” 1816, from variable (adj.). Related: Variably; variability.

adj.

  1. Likely to change or vary; subject to variation; changeable.
  2. Tending to deviate, as from a normal or recognized type; aberrant.
  3. Having no fixed quantitative value.

n.

  1. Something that varies or that is prone to variation.
  2. A quantity that is capable of assuming any of a set of values.

  1. A mathematical quantity capable of assuming any of a set of values, such as x in the expression 3x + 2.
  2. A factor or condition that is subject to change, especially one that is allowed to change in a scientific experiment to test a hypothesis. See more at control.
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