1
- not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change易变的, 多变的, 反复无定的：
the quality of hospital food is highly variable.
医院的食物质量非常变化不定
awards can be for highly variable amounts.
奖金数量可以很不一样。
1.1
- (of a wind) tending to change direction（风）方向不定的。
1.2
- Mathematics (of a quantity) able to assume different numerical values【数】（数字）变量的。
1.3
- Botany & Zoology (of a species) liable to deviate from the typical colour or form, or to occur in different colours or forms【植, 动】变异的; 变型的; 多变的。
2
- able to be changed or adapted可变的; 可更改的：
the drill has variable speed.
这个钻机有可变速度。
2.1
- (of a gear) designed to give varying ratios or speeds（齿轮）变速的。
1
- an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change可变性; 可变因素：
there are too many variables involved to make any meaningful predictions.
涉及的可变因素太多, 不可能作有意义的预言。
1.1
- Mathematics a quantity which during a calculation is assumed to vary or be capable of varying in value【数】元; 变量; 变项; 变元。
1.2
- Computing a data item that may take on more than one value during or between programs【计算机】变量（元）。
1.3
- Astronomy short for VARIABLE STAR.【天文】VARIABLE STAR的简称。
1.4
variables
the region of light, variable winds to the north of the NE trade winds or (in the southern hemisphere) between the SE trade winds and the westerlies（东北信风带以北或南半球的东南信风带与西风带之间的）变风区。
派生词
variability
nounvariableness
nounvariably
adverb词源
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin variabilis, from variare （see VARY）.