	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Feb 12, 2012
Skip Navigation Home Black History Month Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

| Share

Dictionary

pa•ram•e•ter

Pronunciation: (pu-ram'i-tur), [key]
—n.
1. Math.
a. a constant or variable term in a function that determines the specific form of the function but not its general nature, as a in f(x) = ax, where a determines only the slope of the line described by f(x).
b. one of the independent variables in a set of parametric equations.
2. Statistics.a variable entering into the mathematical form of any distribution such that the possible values of the variable correspond to different distributions.
3. Computers.a variable that must be given a specific value during the execution of a program or of a procedure within a program.
4. Usually, parameters. limits or boundaries; guidelines: the basic parameters of our foreign policy.
5. characteristic or factor; aspect; element: a useful parameter for judging long-term success.

parament

parameterize

See also:

parameter (Thesaurus)

Dictionary

pa•ram•e•ter

Related Content