Link Centre Dictionary

variable

va·riable

UK/ˈvɛə.ɹi.ə.bl̩/ US/ˈvæɹ.i.ə.bl̩/ uncommon
adjective (3) noun (4)

adjective

1.

liable to or capable of change

  • “rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable”
  • “variable winds”
  • “variable expenses”
Antonyms
Similar
2.

marked by diversity or difference

  • “the varying angles of roof slope”
  • “nature is infinitely variable”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

(used of a device) designed so that a property (as e.g. light) can be varied

  • “a variable capacitor”
  • “variable filters in front of the mercury xenon lights”
Similar

noun

1.

something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation

  • “the weather is one variable to be considered”
2.

a quantity that can assume any of a set of values

Synonyms
3.

a star that varies noticeably in brightness

Synonyms
4.

a symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • continuous variable valve timing
  • controlled variable time
  • Hubble-Sandage variable
  • variable antshrike
  • variable binding
  • variable cam timing
  • variable cost
  • variable font
  • variable geometry
  • variable star

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.