VARIABLE


Meaning of VARIABLE in English

— variability, variableness , n. — variably , adv.

/vair"ee euh beuhl/ , adj.

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. Biol. deviating from the usual type, as a species or a specific character.

6. Astron. (of a star) changing in brightness.

7. Meteorol. (of wind) tending to change in direction.

8. Math. having the nature or characteristics of a variable.

n.

9. something that may or does vary; a variable feature or factor.

10. Math. , Computers.

a. a quantity or function that may assume any given value or set of values.

b. a symbol that represents this.

11. Logic. (in the functional calculus) a symbol for an unspecified member of a class of things or statements. Cf. bound variable, free variable .

12. Astron. See variable star .

13. Meteorol.

a. a shifting wind, esp. as distinguished from a trade wind.

b. variables , doldrums (def. 2a).

[ 1350-1400; late ME variabilis, equiv. to vari ( us ) VARIOUS + -abilis -ABLE ]

Syn. 3. vacillating, wavering, fluctuating, unsteady, mercurial.

Ant. 1, 3. constant.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .