variable
Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century from Old French variable, from Latin variare, from varius.

Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈvɛə.ɹi.ə.bl̩/
  • (America, non-Mary-marry-merry) IPA: /ˈvæɹ.i.ə.bl̩/
  • (America, Mary-marry-merry) IPA: /ˈvɛɹ.i.ə.bl̩/
Adjective

variable

  1. Able to vary or be varied.
    Synonyms: alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable, Thesaurus:mutable
    Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable, Thesaurus:immutable
    variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity; a variable resistor
  2. Likely to vary.
    Synonyms: fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady, Thesaurus:unsteady, Thesaurus:changeable
    Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable, Thesaurus:steady, Thesaurus:changeless
    • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:
      Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
  3. Marked by diversity or difference.
    Synonyms: varying, Thesaurus:heterogeneous
    Antonyms: unchanging, Thesaurus:homogeneous
  4. (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
    Antonyms: constant, invariable
  5. (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
    Synonyms: aberrant
Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

variable (plural variables)

  1. Something that is variable.
    Synonyms: changeable
    Antonyms: constant, invariable
  2. Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
    Synonyms: parameter
    There are several variables to consider here.
  3. (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.
    Synonyms: variable quantity, Thesaurus:variable
  4. (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
  5. (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
  6. (astronomy) A variable star.
  7. (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
  8. (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations


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