English Online Dictionary. What means variable? What does variable mean?
English
Etymology
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.
Pronunciation
- (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/
Adjective
variable (comparative more variable, superlative most variable)
- Able to vary or be varied.
- Likely to vary.
- Marked by diversity or difference.
- (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
- (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
Synonyms
- (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
Antonyms
- (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 terms
- variability
- variabilize
- variableness
Translations
Noun
variable (plural variables)
- Something that is variable.
- Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
- (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.
Synonyms
- (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
Antonyms
- (something that is variable): constant, invariable
Hyponyms
- See also Thesaurus:variable
Derived terms
Related terms
- variable star
Translations
See also
- argument
- variate
Further reading
- “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
Asturian
Etymology
From Latin variābilis.
Adjective
variable (epicene, plural variables)
- variable (able to vary)
- variable (likely to vary)
Noun
variable f (plural variables)
- (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)
Related terms
- variación
- variar
Catalan
Etymology
From Latin variābilis.
Pronunciation
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /və.ɾiˈa.blə/
- (Central) IPA(key): /bə.ɾiˈa.blə/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /va.ɾiˈa.ble/
Adjective
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 terms
- invariable
- variabilitat
- variablement
Noun
variable f (plural variables)
- variable (something that is variable)
- (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)
Related terms
- invariable
- variació
- variar
Further reading
- “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.
Danish
Adjective
variable
- plural and definite singular attributive of variabel
Noun
variable
- indefinite plural of variabel
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin variābilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /va.ʁjabl/
Adjective
variable (plural variables)
- variable
- Antonym: invariable
Derived terms
- à géométrie variable
- étoile variable
- variablement
Noun
variable f (plural variables)
- variable
Derived terms
- variable de classe
Related terms
- variation
- varier
Further reading
- “variable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- balivera
Galician
Alternative forms
- variábel
Etymology
From Latin variābilis.
Adjective
variable m or f (plural variables)
- variable, changeable
Antonyms
- invariable
Noun
variable f (plural variables)
- variable
Related terms
- variación
- variar
Norwegian Bokmål
Adjective
variable
- definite singular of variabel
- plural of variabel
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
variable
- definite singular of variabel
- plural of variabel
Spanish
Etymology
From Latin variābilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /baˈɾjable/ [baˈɾja.β̞le]
- Rhymes: -able
- Syllabification: va‧ria‧ble
Adjective
variable (plural variables)
- variable
Derived terms
Noun
variable f (plural variables)
- variable
Derived terms
Further reading
- “variable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Swedish
Adjective
variable
- absolute definite natural masculine singular of variabel.
Anagrams
- variabel