variable

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)

1. Able to vary or be varied.

   Synonyms: alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable; see also Thesaurus:mutable

   Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:immutable

2. Likely to vary.

   Synonyms: fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady; see also Thesaurus:unsteady, Thesaurus:changeable

   Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:steady, Thesaurus:changeless
3. Marked by diversity or difference.

   Synonyms: varying; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous

   Antonyms: unchanging; see also Thesaurus:homogeneous

4. (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.

   Antonyms: constant, invariable

5. (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.

   Synonym: aberrant

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

variable (plural variables)

1. Something that is variable.

   Synonym: changeable

   Antonyms: constant, invariable

2. Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.

   Synonym: parameter
3. (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.

   Synonyms: variable quantity; see also Thesaurus:variable

4. (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
5. (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
6. (astronomy) A variable star.
7. (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
8. (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.

Hyponyms

• See also Thesaurus:variable

Derived terms

Related terms

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”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin variābilis.

Adjective

variable (epicene, plural variables)

1. variable (able to vary)
2. variable (likely to vary)

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)

Related terms

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin variābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [bə.ɾiˈab.blə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [və.ɾiˈab.blə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencian) [va.ɾiˈa.ble]

Adjective

variable m or f (masculine and feminine plural variables)

1. variable (able to vary)

   Antonym: invariable

2. variable (likely to vary)

   Antonym: invariable

3. (mathematics) variable (having no fixed quantitative value)

Derived terms

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable (something that is variable)
2. (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)

Related terms

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, 2024
• “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

1. plural and definite singular attributive of variabel

Noun

variable

1. indefinite plural of variabel

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin variābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.ʁjabl/

Adjective

variable (plural variables)

1. variable

   Antonym: invariable

Derived terms

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. (mathematics) variable (quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)

   Antonym: constante

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• “variable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• aabeilrv, balivera

Galician

Alternative forms

• variábel

Etymology

From Latin variābilis.

Adjective

variable m or f (plural variables)

1. variable, changeable

   Antonym: invariable

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable

Related terms

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

variable

1. definite singular of variabel
2. plural of variabel

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

variable

1. definite singular of variabel
2. plural of variabel

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin variābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baˈɾjable/ [baˈɾja.β̞le]
• Rhymes: -able
• Syllabification: va‧ria‧ble

Adjective

variable m or f (masculine and feminine plural variables)

1. variable

Derived terms

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable

Derived terms

Further reading

• “variable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Swedish

Adjective

variable

1. definite natural masculine singular of variabel

Anagrams

• variabel