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1. Liable to or capable of change
   "rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable"; "variable winds"; "variable expenses"
    
2. Marked by diversity or difference
   "nature is infinitely variable";
   - varying
    
3. (used of a device) designed so that a property (as e.g. light) can be varied
   "a variable capacitor"; "variable filters in front of the mercury xenon lights"

1. Something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation
   "the weather is one variable to be considered"
    
2. A quantity that can assume any of a set of values
   - variable quantity
    
3. A star that varies noticeably in brightness
   - variable star
    
4. A symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity

Derived forms: variables

See also: adaptable, changeable, covariant, inconsistent, inconstant, multivariate, protean, shifting, uncertain, unsettled, variant, varied, versatile

Type of: quantity, star, symbol, thing

Antonym: invariable

Encyclopedia: Variable