UNKNOWN QUANTITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unknown quantity mean? 

• UNKNOWN QUANTITY (noun)
  The noun UNKNOWN QUANTITY has 2 senses:

1. a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent

2. a variable whose values are solutions of an equation

  Familiarity information: UNKNOWN QUANTITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNKNOWN QUANTITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

I don't know what the new man will do; he's still an unknown quantity

Hypernyms ("unknown quantity" is a kind of...):

factor (anything that contributes causally to a result)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A variable whose values are solutions of an equation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

unknown; unknown quantity

Hypernyms ("unknown quantity" is a kind of...):

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