VARIABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does variable mean? 

• VARIABLE (noun)
  The noun VARIABLE has 4 senses:

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

2. a quantity that can assume any of a set of values

3. a star that varies noticeably in brightness

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

  Familiarity information: VARIABLE used as a noun is uncommon.

• VARIABLE (adjective)
  The adjective VARIABLE has 3 senses:

1. liable to or capable of change

2. marked by diversity or difference

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

  Familiarity information: VARIABLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VARIABLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Context example:

the weather is one variable to be considered

Hypernyms ("variable" is a kind of...):

thing (a separate and self-contained entity)

Derivation:

variable (liable to or capable of change)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quantity that can assume any of a set of values

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

variable; variable quantity

Hypernyms ("variable" is a kind of...):

quantity (the concept that something has a magnitude and can be represented in mathematical expressions by a constant or a variable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "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)

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; variant; variate (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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A star that varies noticeably in brightness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

variable; variable star

Hypernyms ("variable" is a kind of...):

star ((astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior)

Instance hyponyms:

North Star; polar star; Polaris; pole star; polestar (the brightest star in Ursa Minor; at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper; the northern axis of the earth points toward it)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("variable" is a kind of...):

symbol (an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "variable"):

placeholder (a symbol in a logical or mathematical expression that can be replaced by the name of any member of specified set)

unknown; unknown quantity (a variable whose values are solutions of an equation)

• VARIABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Liable to or capable of change

Context example:

variable expenses

Similar:

changeable; uncertain; unsettled (subject to change)

covariant (changing so that interrelations with another variable quantity or set of quantities remain unchanged)

multivariate (pertaining to any procedure involving two or more variables)

protean (taking on different forms)

shifting (continuously varying)

variant (exhibiting variation and change)

versatile (changeable or inconstant)

Also:

inconsistent (displaying a lack of consistency)

inconstant (likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable)

Antonym:

invariable (not liable to or capable of change)

Derivation:

variability (the quality of being subject to variation)

variable (something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation)

variableness (the quality of being subject to variation)

vary (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

vary (be subject to change in accordance with a variable)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by diversity or difference

Synonyms:

variable; varying

Context example:

nature is infinitely variable

Similar:

varied (characterized by variety)

Derivation:

variability (the quality of being uneven and lacking uniformity)

variableness (the quality of being subject to variation)

vary (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

vary (make something more diverse and varied)

vary (be subject to change in accordance with a variable)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Context example:

variable filters in front of the mercury xenon lights

Similar:

adaptable (capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use)

Derivation:

variability; variableness (the quality of being subject to variation)

 Context examples 

A genus of facultatively anaerobic, Gram-positive or Gram-variable, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Firmicutes and the family Paenibacillaceae.

(Brevibacillus, NCI Thesaurus)

A control sample where a negative result is expected, to help correlate a positive result with the variable being tested.

(Negative Control, NCI Thesaurus)

Prognosis is variable depending on the effective treatment of the underlying neoplasm.

(Paraneoplastic syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

NHL is clinically classified as indolent, aggressive, or having a variable clinical course.

(non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NCI Thesaurus)

A measure of the correlation of two variables X and Y measured on the same object or organism, that is, a measure of the tendency of the variables to increase or decrease together.

(Pearson Correlation Coefficient, NCI Thesaurus)

The data suggest the ammonia is quite variable and continues to increase as far down as we can see with MWR, which is a few hundred miles or kilometers.

(First Science Results from NASA’s Juno Mission, NASA)

The virus’s resistance to the antibody was variable.

(HIV Immunotherapy Promising in First Human Study, NIH)

More research is necessary to determine how the three variables are related.

(Obesity Can Affect Kids’ Working Memory, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Degrees of cellular hypertrophy and hyperchromasia are variable.

(Atypical Adenomatous Hyperplasia of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

This bacteria is oxidase positive, catalase variable, motile by one or more polar flagella, non spore forming and reduces nitrate.

(Arcobacter butzleri, NCI Thesaurus)