[pa.ram.e.ter] n [NL, fr. para- + Gk metron measure--more at measure] (1656) 1 a: an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system (as a family of curves); also: a quantit y (as a mean or variance) that describes a statistical population b: an independent variable used to express the coordinates of a variable point and functions of them--compare parametric equation
2: any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something "~s of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, and density"
3: something represented by a parameter: a characteristic element; broadly: characteristic, element, factor "political dissent as a ~ of modern life"
4: limit, boundary--usu. used in pl. "the ~s of science fiction" -- para.met.ric adj -- para.met.ri.cal.ly adv