parameter
UK[pəˈræmɪtə]US[pəˈræmɪtər]
n
A numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation.
n
A limit or boundary which defines the scope of a particular process or activity.
Morpheme Breakdown
para
meter
para
beside
meter
measure
Etymology
The word 'parameter' entered English in the mid-17th century via modern Latin from Greek para- 'beside' + metron 'measure'. Its initial geometric use described a measurable quantity that, when varied, defines other related quantities, as a line beside a curve. This concept of a defining or limiting factor alongside a system evolved into its modern abstract meanings in mathematics, statistics, and general discourse. The logic traces from the literal Greek sense of an auxiliary measure to the contemporary idea of a defining characteristic or boundary.
Analysis
Structure: para (beside) + meter (measure)
- para: A prefix of Greek origin meaning "beside, alongside, beyond, or altered".
- meter: A combining form from Greek metron, meaning "measure".
Examples
The experiment's success depends on carefully controlling every parameter.
We need to define the parameters of the project before we begin.
The model has several adjustable parameters that affect the final output.