variable

Bridgezipf 4.12

Pronunciation

/ˈvɛərɪəbəl/(VAIR-ee-uh-bul)

Part of speech

noun / adjectiveneutral

Chinese

变量（名）；可变的（形）（在研究或计算中可改变的因素；或容易变化的）

Definition

(noun) A factor that can change or vary; in research or mathematics, a quantity that can take on different values. (adjective) Liable to change.

Word family

  • variability/ˌvɛərɪəˈbɪlɪti/(n)可变性；变异性
  • vary/ˈvɛəri/(v)变化；使多样化
  • variance/ˈvɛərɪəns/(n)差异；方差

Collocations

  • dependent variable
  • independent variable
  • control for variables
  • variable costs
  • variable rate
  • confounding variable
  • key variable

Examples

  1. 1.The study controlled for several key variables, including age, income, and educational level.
  2. 2.Interest rates are a critical variable that determines the cost of borrowing for both individuals and businesses.

Synonyms

  • factor/ˈfæktə/— something that contributes to a result
  • element/ˈɛlɪmənt/— a part of something
  • quantity/ˈkwɒntɪti/— an amount that can vary

Etymology

from Latin "variabilis" = changeable, from "variare" (to vary)