First Known Use: 1852
Dictionary
parameter
noun pa·ram·e·ter \pə-ˈram-ə-tər\
: a rule or limit that controls what something is or how something should be done
Full Definition of PARAMETER
1
a : an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system (as a family of curves); also : a quantity (as a mean or variance) that describes a statistical population b : an independent variable used to express the coordinates of a variable point and functions of them — compare parametric equation
2
: any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something <parameters of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, and density>
3
: something represented by a parameter : a characteristic element; broadly : characteristic, element, factor <political dissent as a parameter of modern life>
4
— para·met·ric \ˌpa-rə-ˈme-trik\ adjective
— para·met·ri·cal·ly \-tri-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of PARAMETER
New Latin, from para- + Greek metron measure — more at measure
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