parameter

C2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /pəˈɹæm.ə.tɚ/ UK /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/ See IPA manual

Freq #30730

Meanings

1

noun
A factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something.

We had to work within the parameters set by our budget.
2

noun
A measurable feature that describes a system or situation.

Temperature and pressure are key parameters in the experiment.
3

noun
A value passed to a function, command, or program in computing.

The function takes two parameters: a name and an age.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 noun · a value passed to a... argument

Word family

Forms parameters

Derived forms clinicoparameterhyperparametermacroparametermetaparametermicroparametermultiparameterparameterisationparameteriseparameterizationparameterizeparameterlessparametrization

Related forms parametricparametriseparametrizevariable

Etymology

From French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”).

paramètre French parametrum la-new παρα- Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Technology & Computing Word Formation & Derivatives

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# parameter

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pəˈɹæm.ə.tɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/
**Frequency rank:** 30730

## Meanings
1. A factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something.
2. A measurable feature that describes a system or situation.
3. A value passed to a function, command, or program in computing.

## Examples
- We had to work within the parameters set by our budget.
- Temperature and pressure are key parameters in the experiment.
- The function takes two parameters: a name and an age.

## Derived Forms
- clinicoparameter
- hyperparameter
- macroparameter
- metaparameter
- microparameter
- multiparameter
- parameterisation
- parameterise
- parameterization
- parameterize
- parameterless
- parametrization

## Related Forms
- parametric
- parametrise
- parametrize
- variable

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: paramètre
- Root: parametrum
- Root: παρα-

## Etymology
From French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”).

## AI Etymology
Parameter is from French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include paramètre (French), parametrum (la-new), and παρα- (Ancient Greek). Current senses include a factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something and a measurable feature that describes a system or situation. The wider family includes derived forms such as clinicoparameter, hyperparameter, macroparameter, metaparameter, and microparameter; related words such as parametric, parametrise, parametrize, and variable.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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parameter

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