variable Hear it!

variable definition

vari·able (ver′ē ə bəl, var′-)

adjective

  1. apt or likely to change or vary; changeable, inconstant, fickle, fluctuating, etc.
  2. that can be changed or varied
  3. Biol. tending to deviate in some way from the type; aberrant
  4. Math. having no fixed value

Etymology: ME < MFr < L variabilis

noun

  1. anything changeable; esp., a quality or quantity that varies or may vary
  2. a shifting wind
  3. Astron. variable star
  4. Math., Physics
    1. a part of a mathematical expression that may assume any value in a specific, related set of values
    2. a symbol for such a part

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business variable definition - business

medical variable definition - medical

variable Synonyms

variable

modif.

inconstant, fickle, mutable, shifting, unsteady, fitful; see also changeable 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

variable Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • confound: Bespoke languages are deemed necessary in order to avoid introducing confounding variables.

Adjective modifier

  • dependent: Let's assume I have some data on a dependent variable, which for the sake of argument we call Y for now.

Modifies a noun

  • annuity: Variable annuities are different, since the payments will vary according to the market value of your investments.

Noun used with modifier

  • predictor: Repeat the multiple regression, but this time include gender as a predictor variable in the REGRESS command.
variable usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

variable quotes

   O Woman! in our hours of ease, Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light quivering aspen made; When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou!

-Scott, Sir Walter

variable quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"variable." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/variable>

APA Style

variable. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/variable

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