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indeterminate

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅de⋅ter⋅mi⋅nate

  [in-di-tur-muh-nit]
Use indeterminate in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not determinate; not precisely fixed in extent; indefinite; uncertain.
2. not clear; vague.
3. not established.
4. not settled or decided.
5. Mathematics.
a. (of a quantity) undefined, as 0/0.
b. (of an equation) able to be satisfied by more than one value for each unknown.
6. Botany. (of an inflorescence) having the axis or axes not ending in a flower or bud, thus allowing further elongation.
–noun
7. Mathematics. something whose value is not specified: used esp. in abstract algebra; a variable.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL indēterminātus. See in- 3 , determinate

Related forms:
in⋅de⋅ter⋅mi⋅nate⋅ly, adverb
in⋅de⋅ter⋅mi⋅nate⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. ambiguous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To indeterminate
in·de·ter·mi·nate   (ĭn'dĭ-tûr'mə-nĭt)   
adj.  

    1. Not precisely determined, determinable, or established: a person of indeterminate age.

    2. Not precisely fixed, as to extent, size, nature, or number: an indeterminate number of plant species in the jungle.

    3. Lacking clarity or precision, as in meaning; vague: an indeterminate turn of phrase.

    4. Not fixed or known in advance: an indeterminate future.

    5. Not leading up to a definite result or ending: an indeterminate campaign.

  2. Botany Not terminating in a flower and continuing to grow at the apex: an indeterminate inflorescence.


[Middle English, from Latin indēterminātus : in-, not; see in-1 + dēterminātus, determined; see determinate.]
in'de·ter'mi·nate·ly adv., in'de·ter'mi·nate·ness, in'de·ter'mi·na'tion (-nā'shən) n.
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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·de·ter·mi·nate
Pronunciation: "in-di-'t&rm-(&-)n&t
Function: adjective
: relating to, being, orundergoing indeterminate cleavage indeterminate egg>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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