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   variable

   /ˈvɛːrɪəbl/

   adjective

   • 1. not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change: "the quality of hospital food is highly variable"
   • ▪ (of a wind) tending to change direction: "winds will be light and variable"
   • ▪ (of a quantity) able to assume different numerical values.
   • ▪ (of a species) liable to deviate from the typical colour or form, or to occur in different colours or forms.
   • 2. able to be changed or adapted: "the drill has variable speed"
   • ▪ (of a gear) designed to give varying ratios or speeds.

   noun

   • 1. an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change: "there are too many variables involved to make any meaningful predictions"
   • ▪ a quantity which during a calculation is assumed to vary or be capable of varying in value.
   • ▪ a data item that may take on more than one value during the runtime of a program.
   • ▪ short for variable star
   • ▪ the region of light, variable winds to the north of the north-east trade winds or (in the southern hemisphere) between the south-east trade winds and the westerlies.

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin variabilis, from variare (see vary).

   Derivatives

   • 1. variableness noun
   • 2. variably adverb

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • V

     4

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • A

     1

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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