English Explanatory Dictionary

variable

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Able to vary or be varied.
  2. Likely to vary.
  3. Marked by diversity or difference.
  4. Having no fixed quantitative value.
  5. Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
noun
  1. Something that is variable.
  2. Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
  3. A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.
  4. A symbol representing a variable.
  5. A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
  6. A variable star.
  7. A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
  8. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.

Pronunciation

[ˈvɛə.ɹi.ə.bl̩] [ˈvæɹ.i.ə.bl̩] [ˈvɛɹ.i.ə.bl̩] En-us-variable.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-variable.wav [ˈveː.ɹi.ə.bl̩]

Word forms

variable more variable most variable variables

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.

Synonyms

capricious changeful fickle fitful flexible fluctuating fluid iffy inconstant irregular mercurial mobile mutable protean shifting shifty slippery spasmodic temperamental ticklish uncertain unequable unsettled unstable unsteady vacillating volatile waffling wavering yo-yo alterable changeable abateable dynamic editable modifiable variable up-and-down chaotic instable rocky varying changeling everchanging labile moody shiftable catholic dishomogeneous diverse diversified eclectic heterogeneous liberal manifold miscellaneous mixed motley multifarious multifold

Antonyms

constant invariable immutable unalterable unchangeable bateless fixed inalterable permanent perma- perpetual unabateable undeviating consistent equable equal even even-keeled monotonous regular samely stable steady uncheckered uniform unvaried unvarying changeless nonchanging static stationary unaltering unchanging homogeneous of a piece onefold uniformal unmixed

Related words

variable star argument variate unsteady

Derived words

continuous variable valve timing controlled variable time multivariable variability variabilize variable antshrike variable binding variable cam timing variable cost variable font variable geometry variable-length array variable neon slug variableness variable squirrel variable sweep variable tandem repeat locus variable valve timing Hubble-Sandage variable microvariable variably
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