parameter
(noun)
noun
1. a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied to yield a family of similar curves
Definition categories: thought, constant, invariable
2. any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance
Definition categories: event, factor
3. (computer science) a reference or value that is passed to a function, procedure, subroutine, command, or program
Similar word(s): argument
Definition categories: communication, value, address, reference
4. a quantity (such as the mean or variance) that characterizes a statistical population and that can be estimated by calculations from sample data
Definition categories: thought, quantity
Sentences with parameter as a noun:
- Roughly, a tuple of arguments could be thought of as a vector, whereas a tuple of parameters could be thought of as a covector (i.e., linear functional). When a function is called, a parameter tuple becomes "bound" to an argument tuple, allowing the function instance itself to be computed to yield a return value. This would be roughly analogous to applying a covector to a vector (by taking their dot product (or, rather, matrix-product of row vector and column vector)) to obtain a s
- The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.