variable
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
Borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century from Old French variable, from Latin variare (“to change”), from varius (“different, various”). Equates to English vary + -able.
PronunciationEdit
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈvɛə.ɹi.ə.bl̩/
- (US, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA(key): /ˈvæɹ.i.ə.bl̩/
- (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): /ˈvɛɹ.i.ə.bl̩/
Audio (US) (file)
AdjectiveEdit
variable (comparative more variable, superlative most variable)
- Able to vary or be varied.
- variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity; a variable resistor
- Likely to vary.
- 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.
- Marked by diversity or difference.
- (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
- (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
SynonymsEdit
- (able to vary): alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable; see also Thesaurus:mutable
- (likely to vary): fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady; see also Thesaurus:unsteady or Thesaurus:changeable
- (marked by diversity or difference): varying; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous
- (biology: tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type): aberrant
AntonymsEdit
- (able to vary): constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:immutable
- (likely to vary): constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable see also Thesaurus:steady or Thesaurus:changeless
- (marked by diversity or difference): unchanging; see also Thesaurus:homogeneous
- (mathematics: having no fixed quantitative value): constant, invariable
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
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NounEdit
variable (plural variables)
- Something that is variable.
- Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
- 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193:
- Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.
- There are several variables to consider here.
- (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.
- (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
- (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
- (astronomy) A variable star.
- (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
- (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.
SynonymsEdit
- (something that is variable): changeable
- (something whose value may be dictated or discovered): parameter
- (mathematics: a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values): variable quantity; see also Thesaurus:variable
AntonymsEdit
- (something that is variable): constant, invariable
HyponymsEdit
- See also Thesaurus:variable
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See alsoEdit
Further readingEdit
- “variable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “variable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- variable at OneLook Dictionary Search
AsturianEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin variābilis.
AdjectiveEdit
variable (epicene, plural variables)
NounEdit
variable f (plural variables)
- (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)
Related termsEdit
CatalanEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin variābilis.
PronunciationEdit
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /və.ɾiˈa.blə/
- (Central) IPA(key): /bə.ɾiˈa.blə/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /va.ɾiˈa.ble/
AdjectiveEdit
variable m or f (masculine and feminine plural variables)
- variable (able to vary)
- Antonym: invariable
- variable (likely to vary)
- Antonym: invariable
- (mathematics) variable (having no fixed quantitative value)
Derived termsEdit
NounEdit
variable f (plural variables)
- variable (something that is variable)
- (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)
Related termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “variable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “variable”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
- “variable” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “variable” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
DanishEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable
- plural and definite singular attributive of variabel
NounEdit
variable
FrenchEdit
EtymologyEdit
Borrowed from Latin variābilis.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable (plural variables)
- variable
- Antonym: invariable
Derived termsEdit
NounEdit
variable f (plural variables)
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “variable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
AnagramsEdit
GalicianEdit
Alternative formsEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin variābilis.
AdjectiveEdit
variable m or f (plural variables)
AntonymsEdit
NounEdit
variable f (plural variables)
Related termsEdit
Norwegian BokmålEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable
Norwegian NynorskEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable
SpanishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin variābilis.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable (plural variables)
Derived termsEdit
NounEdit
variable f (plural variables)
Derived termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “variable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
SwedishEdit
AdjectiveEdit
variable