adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ in-di- ' t ə rm-n ə t, - ' t ə r-m ə -
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English indeterminat, from Late Latin indeterminatus, from Latin in- + determinatus, past participle of determinare to determine
Date: 14th century
1 a : not definitely or precisely determined or fixed : VAGUE b : not known in advance c : not leading to a definite end or result
2 : having an infinite number of solutions <a system of indeterminate equations>
3 : being one of the seven undefined mathematical expressions 0/0, ∞ / ∞ , ∞ · 0, 1 ∞ , 0 0 , ∞ 0 , ∞ - ∞
4 : characterized by sequential flowering from the lateral or basal buds to the central or uppermost buds also : characterized by growth in which the main stem continues to elongate indefinitely without being limited by a terminal inflorescence ― compare DETERMINATE 4
– in · de · ter · mi · nate · ly adverb
– in · de · ter · mi · nate · ness noun
– in · de · ter · mi · na · tion \ - ˌ t ə r-m ə - ' n ā -sh ə n \ noun