I. pəˈraməd.ə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin, from para- + -meter (from Greek metron measure) — more at measure
1. : the relative intercept made by a plane on a crystallographic axis, the ratio of the intercepts determining the position of the plane
2.
a. : an arbitrary constant characterizing by each of its values some member of a system (as of expressions, curves, surfaces, functions)
we now develop an equation which, for suitable choice of a parameter , will represent either a parabola, an ellipse, or a hyperbola — School Mathematics Study Group
specifically : a quantity that describes a statistical population
a clear distinction should always be drawn between parameters and estimates, i.e. between quantities which characterize the universe, and estimates of these quantities calculated from observations — Statistical Methods in Research & Production
estimation of the values of the parameters which enter into the equation representing the chosen relation — Frank Yates
b. : an independent variable through functions of which other functions may be expressed
four parameters are necessary to determine an event, namely the three which determine its position and the one which determines its time — P.W.Bridgman
II. noun
1. : any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of a system
parameters of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, and density
2. : something represented by a parameter ; broadly : characteristic : element : factor
political dissent as a parameter of modern life
3. : limit : boundary
working within established parameters
4. : a variable whose value is input to a procedure or subprogram to be operated on when the procedure or subprogram is called in a computer program