CONSTANT

constant

(adjective) steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection; “a man constant in adherence to his ideals”; “a constant lover”; “constant as the northern star”

ceaseless, constant, incessant, never-ending, perpetual, unceasing, unremitting

(adjective) uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing; “the ceaseless thunder of surf”; “in constant pain”; “night and day we live with the incessant noise of the city”; “the never-ending search for happiness”; “the perpetual struggle to maintain standards in a democracy”; “man’s unceasing warfare with drought and isolation”; “unremitting demands of hunger”

changeless, constant, invariant, unvarying

(adjective) unvarying in nature; “maintained a constant temperature”; “principles of unvarying validity”

constant, constant quantity, invariable

(noun) a quantity that does not vary

constant

(noun) a number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context; “the velocity of light is a constant”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

constant (comparative more constant, superlative most constant)

Unchanged through time or space; permanent.

Consistently recurring over time; persistent.

Synonym: Thesaurus:continuous

Steady in purpose, action, feeling, etc.

Firm; solid; not fluid.

(obsolete) Consistent; logical.

(computing, complexity theory) Bounded above by a constant.

Synonyms

• (unchanged through time or space): nonchanging, unaltering, unvarying; see also changeless

Noun

constant (plural constants)

That which is permanent or invariable.

(algebra) A quantity that remains at a fixed value throughout a given discussion.

(science) Any property of an experiment, determined numerically, that does not change under given circumstances.

(computing) An identifier that is bound to an invariant value; a fixed value given a name to aid in readability of source code.

Source: Wiktionary


Con"stant, a. Etym: [L. onstans, -antis, p.pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf.F. constant. See Stand and f. Cost, v. t.]

1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [Obs.] If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body. Boyle.

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle. Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. Sir P. Sidney. I am constant to my purposes. Shak. His gifts, his constant ourtship, nothing gained. Dryden. Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics)

Definition: Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, forc, law, etc.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn.

– Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined.

– Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing" fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes, a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

Con"stant, n.

1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. (Math.)

Definition: A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, as the number 10, or any numeral.

– Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 November 2024

POPULATED

(adjective) furnished with inhabitants; “the area is well populated”; “forests populated with all kinds of wild life”


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