parameter

[puh-ram-i-ter] /pəˈræm ɪ tər/
noun
1.
Mathematics.
  1. 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).
  2. 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.
Origin
1650-60; < Neo-Latin parametrum. See para-1, -meter
Related forms
parametric
[par-uh-me-trik] /ˌpær əˈmɛ trɪk/ (Show IPA), parametrical, adjective
Can be confused
boundary, limit, parameter, variable (see synonym study at boundary; see usage note at the current entry)
parameter, perimeter.
Usage note
4, 5. Some object strongly to the use of parameter in these newer senses. Nevertheless, the criticized uses are now well established both in educated speech and in edited writing.
Examples from the web for parameter
  • The two orientation parameters we use here are roll and pointing angle.
  • Increase the first parameter above its initial value by some small percentage and note the change, if any, in the efficiency.
  • Balance board controls are used as an extra parameter to calculate power.
  • Give these musicians a musical parameter and they'll toy with it.
  • The density of trees in the forest is also another important parameter.
  • You need to use density, but that's far from the only relevant parameter.
  • This parameter applies to your characters as well and puts some mild strategic elements in play.
  • It is an imprecise parameter at best since books have never been uniform in font or form.
  • Its virulence, as measured by a parameter called w, is within 5 percent of the cosmological constant.
  • This happened just because I overlooked one security parameter on my profile.
British Dictionary definitions for parameter

parameter

/pəˈræmɪtə/
noun
1.
one of a number of auxiliary variables in terms of which all the variables in an implicit functional relationship can be explicitly expressed See parametric equations
2.
a variable whose behaviour is not being considered and which may for present purposes be regarded as a constant, as y in the partial derivative ∂f(x,y)/∂x
3.
(statistics) a characteristic of the distribution of a population, such as its mean, as distinct from that of a sample Compare statistic
4.
(informal) any constant or limiting factor: a designer must work within the parameters of budget and practicality
Derived Forms
parametric (ˌpærəˈmɛtrɪk), parametrical, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from New Latin; see para-1, -meter
Word Origin and History for parameter
n.

1650s in geometry, from Modern Latin parameter (1630s), from Greek para- "beside, subsidiary" (see para- (1)) + metron "measure" (see meter (n.2)).

A geometry term until 1920s when it yielded sense of "measurable factor which helps to define a particular system" (1927). Common modern meaning (influenced by perimeter) of "boundary, limit, characteristic factor" is from 1950s. Related: Parametric.

parameter in Medicine

parameter pa·ram·e·ter (pə-rām'ĭ-tər)
n.

  1. One of a set of measurable factors, such as temperature and pressure, that define a system and determine its behavior and are varied in an experiment.

  2. A factor that determines a range of variations; a boundary.

  3. A statistical quantity, such as a mean or standard deviation of a total population, that is calculated from data and describes a characteristic of the population as opposed to a sample from the population.

  4. A psychoanalytic tactic, other than interpretation, used by the analyst to further the patient's progress.

  5. A factor that restricts what is possible or what results. Not in technical use.

  6. A distinguishing characteristic or feature. Not in technical use.

par'a·met'ric (pār'ə-mět'rĭk) or par'a·met'ri·cal adj.
par'a·met'ri·cal·ly adv.
parameter in Culture
parameter [(puh-ram-uh-tuhr)]

A quantity or number on which some other quantity or number depends. An informal example is, “Depending on the traffic, it takes me between twenty minutes and an hour to drive to work”; here, “traffic” is the parameter that determines the time it takes to get to work. In statistics, a parameter is an unknown characteristic of a population — for example, the number of women in a particular precinct who will vote Democratic.

Note: The term is often mistakenly used to refer to the limits of possible values a variable can have because of confusion with the word perimeter.
parameter in Technology


formal argument

Encyclopedia Article for parameter

in mathematics, a variable for which the range of possible values identifies a collection of distinct cases in a problem. Any equation expressed in terms of parameters is a parametric equation. The general equation of a straight line in slope-intercept form, y=mx+b, in which m and b are parameters, is an example of a parametric equation. When values are assigned to the parameters, such as the slope m=2 and the y-intercept b=3, and substitution is made, the resulting equation, y=2x+3, is that of a specific straight line and is no longer parametric

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