variable

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): [ˈvɛə.ɹi.ə.bl̩] (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): [ˈvæɹ.i.ə.bl̩] (US, Canada, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): [ˈvɛɹ.i.ə.bl̩] (Australian) IPA(key): [ˈveː.ɹi.ə.bl̩] === Adjective === variable (comparative more variable, superlative most variable) Able to vary or be varied. Synonyms: alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable; see also Thesaurus:mutable Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:immutable Likely to vary. Synonyms: fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady, up-and-down; see also Thesaurus:unsteady, Thesaurus:changeable Antonyms: constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:steady, Thesaurus:changeless Marked by diversity or difference. Synonyms: varying; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous Antonyms: unchanging; see also Thesaurus:homogeneous (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value. Antonyms: constant, invariable (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type. Synonym: aberrant ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === variable (plural variables) Something that is variable. Synonym: changeable Antonyms: constant, invariable Something whose value may be dictated or discovered. Synonym: parameter (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values. Synonyms: variable quantity; see also Thesaurus:variable (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable. (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them. (astronomy) A variable star. (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force. (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts. ==== Hyponyms ==== See also Thesaurus:variable ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== argument variate === Further reading === “variable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “variable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “variable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. == Asturian == === Etymology === From Latin variābilis. === Adjective === variable (epicene, plural variables) variable (able to vary) variable (likely to vary) === Noun === variable f (plural variables) (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values) ==== Related terms ==== == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin variābilis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Northern, Central) [bə.ɾiˈab.blə] IPA(key): (Balearic) [və.ɾiˈab.blə] IPA(key): (Valencia) [va.ɾiˈa.ble] IPA(key): (Northwestern) [ba.ɾiˈab.ble] === Adjective === variable m or f (masculine and feminine plural variables) variable (able to vary) Antonym: invariable variable (likely to vary) Antonym: invariable (mathematics) variable (having no fixed quantitative value) ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === variable f (plural variables) variable (something that is variable) (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values) ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “variable”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “variable”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 “variable” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “variable”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan) == Danish == === Adjective === variable plural and definite singular attributive of variabel === Noun === variable indefinite plural of variabel == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin variābilis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /va.ʁjabl/ === Adjective === variable (plural variables) variable Antonym: invariable ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === variable f (plural variables) (mathematics) variable (quantity that may assume any one of a set of values) Antonym: constante ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “variable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 === Anagrams === aabeilrv, balivera == Galician == === Alternative forms === variável (reintegrationist) variábel === Etymology === From Latin variābilis. === Adjective === variable m or f (plural variables) variable, changeable Antonym: invariable === Noun === variable f (plural variables) variable ==== Related terms ==== == Norwegian Bokmål == === Adjective === variable definite singular of variabel plural of variabel == Norwegian Nynorsk == === Adjective === variable definite singular of variabel plural of variabel == Spanish == === Etymology === From Latin variābilis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baˈɾjable/ [baˈɾja.β̞le] Rhymes: -able Syllabification: va‧ria‧ble === Adjective === variable m or f (masculine and feminine plural variables) variable ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === variable f (plural variables) variable ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “variable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Swedish == === Adjective === variable definite natural masculine singular of variabel === Anagrams === variabel