variable

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var·i·a·ble

(vâr′ē-ə-bəl, văr′-)

adj.

a. Likely to change or vary; subject to variation; changeable.

b. Inconstant; fickle.

2. Biology Tending to exhibit genetic variation or variation in a physical trait: geographically variable color patterns.

3. Mathematics Having no fixed quantitative value.

1. Something that varies or is prone to variation.

2. Astronomy A variable star.

3. Mathematics

a. A quantity capable of assuming any of a set of values.

b. A symbol representing such a quantity. For example, in the expression a² + b² = c², a,b, and c are variables.

var′i·a·ble·ness n.

var′i·a·bly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

variable

(ˈvɛərɪəbəl)

adj

1. liable to or capable of change: variable weather.

2. (of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle

3. (Mathematics) maths having a range of possible values

4. (Biology) (of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the established type

5. (Physical Geography) (of a wind) varying its direction and intensity

6. (Electrical Engineering) (of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such as resistance, can be varied: variable capacitor.

7. something that is subject to variation

8. (Mathematics) maths

a. an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values

b. a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etc. See also dependent variable, independent variable

9. (Logic) logic a symbol, esp x, y, z, representing any member of a class of entities

10. (Computer Science) computing a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values during execution of a program

11. (Celestial Objects) astronomy See variable star

12. (Physical Geography) a variable wind

13. (Physical Geography) (plural) a region where variable winds occur

[C14: from Latin variābilis changeable, from variāre to diversify]

ˌvariaˈbility, ˈvariableness n

ˈvariably adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

var•i•a•ble

(ˈvɛər i ə bəl)

adj.

1. apt to vary; changeable.

2. capable of being varied.

3. inconstant; fickle.

4. having much variation or diversity.

5. deviating from the usual type, as a species.

6. (of a star) changing in brightness.

7. (of wind) tending to change in direction.

8. having the characteristics of a variable.

9. something that may vary.

10.

a. a quantity or function that may assume any given value or set of values.

b. a symbol that represents this.

11. a symbol in logic for an unspecified member of a class of things or statements.

12. a shifting wind.

[1350–1400; < Late Latin]

var`i•a•bil′i•ty, var′i•a•ble•ness, n.

var′i•a•bly, adv.

var·i·a·ble

(vâr′ē-ə-bəl)

1. A mathematical quantity capable of assuming any of a set of values, such as x in the expression 3x + 2.

2. A factor or condition that is subject to change, especially one that is allowed to change in a scientific experiment to test a hypothesis. See more at control.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

variable

A condition, such as temperature, concentration and pressure, which can be changed in a chemical reaction.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	variable - something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation; "the weather is one variable to be considered" thing - a separate and self-contained entity
	2.	variable - a quantity that can assume any of a set of values variable quantity quantity - the concept that something has a magnitude and can be represented in mathematical expressions by a constant or a variable argument - a variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value determines the dependent variable; if f(x)=y, x is the independent variable experimental variable, independent variable - (statistics) a variable whose values are independent of changes in the values of other variables correlate, correlative - either of two or more related or complementary variables degree of freedom - (statistics) an unrestricted variable in a frequency distribution dependent variable - (statistics) a variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value depends on the independent variable; "if f(x)=y, y is the dependent variable" predictor variable - a variable that can be used to predict the value of another variable (as in statistical regression) infinitesimal - (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit chance variable, random variable, stochastic variable, variate, variant - a variable quantity that is random scalar - a variable quantity that cannot be resolved into components tensor - a generalization of the concept of a vector vector - a variable quantity that can be resolved into components
	3.	variable - a star that varies noticeably in brightness variable star star - (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
	4.	variable - a symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity symbol - an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance placeholder - a symbol in a logical or mathematical expression that can be replaced by the name of any member of specified set unknown quantity, unknown - a variable whose values are solutions of an equation
Adj.	1.	variable - liable to or capable of change; "rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable"; "variable winds"; "variable expenses" inconsistent - displaying a lack of consistency; "inconsistent statements cannot both be true at the same time"; "inconsistent with the roadmap" inconstant - likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable; "inconstant affections"; "an inconstant lover"; "swear not by...the inconstant moon"- Shakespeare invariable - not liable to or capable of change; "an invariable temperature"; "an invariable rule"; "his invariable courtesy"
	2.	variable - marked by diversity or difference; "the varying angles of roof slope"; "nature is infinitely variable" varying varied - characterized by variety; "immigrants' varied ethnic and religious traditions"; "his work is interesting and varied"
	3.	variable - (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" adaptable - capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use; "to succeed one must be adaptable"; "the frame was adaptable to cloth bolts of different widths"

variable

adjective changeable, unstable, fluctuating, shifting, flexible, wavering, uneven, fickle, temperamental, mercurial, capricious, unsteady, protean, vacillating, fitful, mutable, inconstant, chameleonic Weather conditions are variable and change from day to day.
stable, constant, unchanging, firm, settled, fixed, steady, unalterable

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

variable

adjective

1. Capable of or liable to change:

alterable, changeable, fluid, inconstant, mutable, uncertain, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variant.

Archaic: various.

2. Following no predictable pattern:

capricious, changeable, erratic, fantastic, fantastical, fickle, freakish, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, temperamental, ticklish, uncertain, unpredictable, unstable, unsteady, volatile, whimsical.

3. Lacking consistency or regularity in quality or performance:

erratic, inconsistent, patchy, spotty, uneven, unsteady.

Translations

مُتَغَيِّرمُتَغَيِّر، كَمِيَّة مُتَغَيِّرَهمُتَقَلِّبمُتَنَوِّع، مُخْتَلِف

proměnlivýproměnnáfaktorměnitelnýmožná změna

variabel

Variable unterschiedlich variabel veränderlich veränderliche Größe

ευμετάβλητος μεταβλητή

variable inestable

muutuja

vaihtelevamuuttuja

variable changeant paramètre

promjenjiv

változóváltoztatható

breytabreytanlegur, stillanlegurbreytilegur, óstöîugur

variabile parametro

変わりやすい可変な変わりうる

변하기 쉬운

variabel veranderlijk

variabel foranderlig stillbar

zmienny

variável

переменная переменный неизвестная неизвестное

meniteľnýmožná výmena

avvikandeparametervariabelvarierande

เปลี่ยนแปลงได้ตลอดเวลา

değişkendeğişken nicelikkararsızdeğişebilendeğişik

có thể thay đổi

变化变化的可变的易变的

variable

[ˈvɛərɪəbl]

A. ADJ (gen) → variable; [person] → variable, voluble
variable costs → costes mpl variables

B. N → variable f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

variable

[ˈvɛəriəb^əl]

adj

[amount, content, quality, rainfall, weather, rate, speed] → variable
a variable rate of interest

[mood] → changeant(e)

(gen) (= factor) → variable f

(MATHEMATICS) → variable f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

variable

adj

(= likely to vary) (Math) → veränderlich, variabel; (Biol) → variabel; weather, mood → unbeständig, wechselhaft; infinitely variable (Tech) → stufenlos; variable winds → wechselnde Winde pl; his work is very variable → er arbeitet sehr unterschiedlich

speed → regulierbar; salary level → flexibel; the height of the seat is variable → die Höhe des Sitzes kann reguliert werden

n (Chem, Math, Phys, Comput) → Variable f; (fig also) → veränderliche Größe; dependent/independent variable (Math) → abhängige/unabhängige Variable

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

variable

[ˈvɛərɪəbl]

1. adj (output, performance) → non costante; (weather, wind) → variabile; (mood) → mutevole

2. n (Math) → variabile f

vary

(ˈveəri) verb

to make, be or become different. These apples vary in size from small to medium.

ˈvariable adjective

1. that may be varied. The machine works at a variable speed.

2. (of eg winds, weather etc) liable or likely to change. British weather is very variable.

noun

something that varies, eg in quantity, value, effect etc. Have you taken all the variables into account in your calculations?

ˈvariably adverb

ˌvariaˈbility – plural variaˈbilities – noun

ˌvariˈation noun

1. the extent to which a thing changes. In the desert there are great variations in temperature.

2. one of a series of musical elaborations made on a basic theme or melody. Brahms' variations on Haydn's `St Anthony's Chorale'.

ˈvaried adjective

He has had a very varied career.

variable

→ مُتَغَيِّر proměnlivý variabel veränderlich ευμετάβλητος variable vaihteleva variable promjenjiv variabile 変わりやすい 변하기 쉬운 variabel variabel zmienny variável переменный varierande เปลี่ยนแปลงได้ตลอดเวลา değişken có thể thay đổi 变化的

var·i·a·ble

n. variable, factor que puede variar;

a. que puede cambiar.

variable

adj & n variable f

References in classic literature ?

No case is on record of a variable being ceasing to be variable under cultivation.

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Besides the reasons mentioned, the nature of the people is variable, and whilst it is easy to persuade them, it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion.

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The first object of tactics is to close with the adversary on terms of the greatest possible advantage; yet no hard-and-fast rules can be drawn from experience, for this capital reason, amongst others - that the quality of the adversary is a variable element in the problem.

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Whosoever is found variable, and changeth manifestly without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption.

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The intrigue of close texture will never suit our conditions, which are so loose and open and variable; each man's life among us is a romance of the Spanish model, if it is the life of a man who has risen, as we nearly all have, with many ups and downs.

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Inasmuch as philosophers only are able to grasp the eternal and unchangeable, and those who wander in the region of the many and variable are not philosophers, I must ask you which of the two classes should be the rulers of our State?

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At last, after three days of variable winds, we have caught the north-east trades.

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The sea breeze, as though it had the sooner blown itself out by its unusual violence, was already at an end; it had been succeeded by light, variable airs from the south and south-east, carrying great banks of fog; and the anchorage, under lee of Skeleton Island, lay still and leaden as when first we entered it.

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And we need not be apprehensive that there will be too much stability, while there is even the option of changing; nor need we desire to prohibit the people from continuing their confidence where they think it may be safely placed, and where, by constancy on their part, they may obviate the fatal inconveniences of fluctuating councils and a variable policy.

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From Keeling Island our course was slower and more variable, often taking us into great depths.

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Capricious, variable, close, giddy, free, prudish, a virgin armed with claws, Erigone stained with grapes, she sometimes overturned, with a single dash of her white fingers, or with a single puff from her laughing lips, the edifice which had exhausted Malicorne's patience for a month.

View in context

We are at the mercy of very variable winds; but I should think myself fortunate were we to strike it between Sierra Leone and Portendick.