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constant - 13 dictionary results

con⋅stant

  [kon-stuhnt]
Use constant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not changing or varying; uniform; regular; invariable: All conditions during the three experiments were constant.
2. continuing without pause or letup; unceasing: constant noise.
3. regularly recurrent; continual; persistent: He found it impossible to work with constant interruption.
4. faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, etc.: a constant lover.
5. steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute.
6. Obsolete. certain; confident.
–noun
7. something that does not or cannot change or vary.
8. Physics. a number expressing a property, quantity, or relation that remains unchanged under specified conditions.
9. Mathematics. a quantity assumed to be unchanged throughout a given discussion.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L constant- (s. of constāns, prp. of constāre to stand firm), equiv. to con- con- + stā- stand + -nt- prp. suffix

Related forms:
con⋅stant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. unchanging, immutable, permanent. 2. perpetual, unremitting, uninterrupted. 3. incessant, ceaseless. 4. loyal, staunch, true. See faithful. 5. steady, unwavering, unswerving.

Antonyms:
1. changeable. 2. fitful. 3. sporadic. 4. unreliable. 5. wavering.

Con⋅stant

  [kawn-stahn]
–noun
1. Paul Hen⋅ri Ben⋅ja⋅min Bal⋅luat  [pawl ahn-ree ban-zha-man ba-lwa] . Estournelles de Constant, Paul.
2. Jean Jo⋅seph Ben⋅ja⋅min  [zhahn zhaw-zef ban-zha-man] , 1845–1902, French painter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·stant   (kŏn'stənt)   
adj.  
  1. Continually occurring; persistent.
  2. Regularly recurring: plagued by constant interruptions.
  3. Unchanging in nature, value, or extent; invariable. See Synonyms at continual.
  4. Steadfast in purpose, loyalty, or affection; faithful. See Synonyms at faithful.
n.  
  1. Something that is unchanging or invariable.
    1. A quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
    2. An experimental or theoretical condition, factor, or quantity that does not vary or that is regarded as invariant in specified circumstances.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cōnstāns, cōnstant-, present participle of cōnstāre, to stand firm : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
con'stant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Constant

Con"stant\, a. [L. onstans, -antis, p. pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf. F. constant. See Stand and cf. Cost, v. t.]

1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [Obs.]

If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body. --Boyle.

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle.

Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. --Sir P. Sidney.

I am constant to my purposes. --Shak.

His gifts, his constant ourtship, nothing gained. --Dryden.

Onward the constant current sweeps. --Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics) Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, force, law, etc.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] --Shak.

Syn: Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; invariable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined.

Usage: Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing" fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

Constant

Con"stant\, n. 1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction to variable.

Absolute constant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all circumstances, as the number 10, or any numeral.

Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables.

Constant

Con"stant\, n. 1. (Astron.) A number whose value, when ascertained (as by observation) and substituted in a general mathematical formula expressing an astronomical law, completely determines that law and enables predictions to be made of its effect in particular cases.

2. (Physics) A number expressing some property or condition of a substance or of an instrument of precision; as, the dielectric constant of quartz; the collimation constant of a transit instrument.

Aberration constant, or Constant of aberration (Astron.), a number which by substitution in the general formula for aberration enables a prediction to be made of the effect of aberration on a star anywhere situated. Its value is 20[sec].47.

Constant of integration (Math.), an undetermined constant added to every result of integration.

Gravitation constant (Physics), the acceleration per unit of time produced by the attraction of a unit of mass at unit distance. When this is known the acceleration produced at any distance can be calculated.

Solar constant (Astron.), the quantity of heat received by the earth from the sun in a unit of time. It is, on the C. G. S. system, 0.0417 small calories per square centimeter per second. --Young.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : constant
Spanish: constante,
German: dauernd,
Japanese: 絶えまのない
More Translations »

constant

A number that appears in equations and formulas and does not vary or change. Examples are Planck's constant and the speed of light.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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constant 
c.1386, "steadfast, resolute," from L. constantem (nom. constans) "standing firm, stable, steadfast," prp. of constare, from com- "together" + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Of actions and conditions from 1653.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: 1con·stant
Pronunciation: 'kän(t)-st&nt
Function: adjective
: remaining unchanged —con·stant·ly adverb

Main Entry: 2constant
Function: noun
: something invariable or unchanging; especially : a number that has a fixed value in a given situation oruniversally or that is characteristic of some substance or instrument
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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constant con·stant (kŏn'stənt)
adj.

  1. Continually occurring; persistent.
  2. Unchanging in nature, value, or extent; invariable.
n.
  1. A quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
  2. An experimental or theoretical condition, factor, or quantity that does not vary or that is regarded as invariant in specified circumstances.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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constant   (kŏn'stənt)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. A quantity that is unknown but assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
  2. A theoretical or experimental quantity, condition, or factor that does not vary in specified circumstances. Avogadro's number and Planck's constant are examples of constants.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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constant

a number, value, or object that has a fixed magnitude, physically or abstractly, as a part of a specific operation or discussion. In mathematics the term refers to a quantity (often represented by a symbol-e.g., pi, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter) that does not change in a certain discussion or operation, or to a variable that can assume only one value. In logic it is a term with an invariant denotation (any symbol with a fixed designation, such as a connective or quantifier).

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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