variability
Use Variability in a sentence
i adjective
1.
apt or liable to vary or change; changeable: variable weather; variable moods.
2.
capable of being varied or changed; alterable: a variable time limit for completion of a book.
3.
inconstant; fickle: a variable lover.
4.
having much variation or diversity.
5.
Biology. deviating from the usual type, as a species or a specific character.
6.
Astronomy. (of a star) changing in brightness.
7.
Meteorology. (of wind) tending to change in direction.
8.
Mathematics. having the nature or characteristics of a variable.
noun
9.
something that may or does vary; a variable feature or factor.
10.
Mathematics, Computers.
a.
a quantity or function that may assume any given value or set of values.
b.
a symbol that represents this.
11.
Logic. (in the functional calculus) a symbol for an unspecified member of a class of things or statements. Compare bound variable, free variable.
12.
Astronomy, variable star.
13.
Meteorology.
a.
a shifting wind, especially as distinguished from a trade wind.
b.
00:10
Variability
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Origin:
1350–1400; late Middle English < Latin variābilis, equivalent to vari(us) various + -ābilis -able
1350–1400; late Middle English < Latin variābilis, equivalent to vari(us) various + -ābilis -able
Related forms
var·i·a·bil·i·ty, var·i·a·ble·ness, noun
var·i·a·bly, adverb
hy·per·var·i·a·bil·i·ty, noun
hy·per·var·i·a·ble, adjective
hy·per·var·i·a·b·ly, adverb
non·var·i·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·var·i·a·ble, adjective
non·var·i·a·ble·ness, noun
non·var·i·a·b·ly, adverb
un·var·i·a·ble, adjective
un·var·i·a·ble·ness, noun
un·var·i·a·b·ly, adverb
Can be confused: 1. boundary, limit, parameter, variable (see synonym study at boundary)(see usage note at parameter) ; 2. variable, variant.
Synonyms
3. vacillating, wavering, fluctuating, unsteady, mercurial.
3. vacillating, wavering, fluctuating, unsteady, mercurial.
Antonyms
1, 3. constant.
1, 3. constant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To variability
Collins
World English Dictionary
variable (ˈvɛərɪəbəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | liable to or capable of change: variable weather |
| 2. | (of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle |
| 3. | maths having a range of possible values |
| 4. | (of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the established type |
| 5. | (of a wind) varying its direction and intensity |
| 6. | (of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such as resistance, can be varied: variable capacitor |
| —n | |
| 7. | something that is subject to variation |
| 8. | maths |
| a. an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values | |
| b. dependent variable See also independent variable a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etc | |
| 9. | logic a symbol, esp x, y, z, representing any member of a class of entities |
| 10. | computing a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values during execution of a program |
| 11. | astronomy See variable star |
| 12. | a variable wind |
| 13. | (plural) a region where variable winds occur |
| [C14: from Latin variābilis changeable, from variāre to diversify] | |
| varia'bility | |
| —n | |
| 'variableness | |
| —n | |
| 'variably | |
| —adv | |
| variable (ˈvɛərɪəbəl) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | liable to or capable of change: variable weather |
| 2. | (of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle |
| 3. | maths having a range of possible values |
| 4. | (of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the established type |
| 5. | (of a wind) varying its direction and intensity |
| 6. | (of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such as resistance, can be varied: variable capacitor |
| —n | |
| 7. | something that is subject to variation |
| 8. | maths |
| a. an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values | |
| b. dependent variable See also independent variable a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etc | |
| 9. | logic a symbol, esp x, y, z, representing any member of a class of entities |
| 10. | computing a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values during execution of a program |
| 11. | astronomy See variable star |
| 12. | a variable wind |
| 13. | (plural) a region where variable winds occur |
| [C14: from Latin variābilis changeable, from variāre to diversify] | |
| varia'bility | |
| —n | |
| 'variableness | |
| —n | |
| 'variably | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
variable
late 14c., of persons, from O.Fr. variable, from L. variabilis "changeable," from variare "to change" (see vary). Of weather, seasons, etc., attested from late 15c.; of stars, from 1788. The noun meaning "quantity that can vary in value" first recorded 1816, from the adj.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
variable var·i·a·ble (vâr'ē-ə-bəl, vār'-)
adj.
Likely to change or vary; subject to variation; changeable.
Tending to deviate, as from a normal or recognized type; aberrant.
Having no fixed quantitative value.
Something that varies or that is prone to variation.
A quantity that is capable of assuming any of a set of values.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
variable  (vâr'ē-ə-bəl) Pronunciation Key
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The birth of a new star implied the variability of the heavens.
Much of the challenge in developing lupus drugs stems from the variability of the disease.
Compounding the natural variability of the wind itself is the often-overlooked problem of stall.
Depending on the factors and their weighting, the results demonstrate wide variability.
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