variable

adjective

• 1not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change:the quality of hospital food is highly variable awards can be for variable amounts
• (of a wind) tending to change direction.
• Mathematics (of a quantity) able to assume different numerical values.
• Botany & Zoology (of a species) liable to deviate from the typical color or form, or to occur in different colors or forms.

• 2able to be changed or adapted:the drill has variable speed
• (of a gear) designed to give varying ratios or speeds.

noun

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