indeterminate

indeterminate
/in'di terr"meuh nit/, adj.
1. not determinate; not precisely fixed in extent; indefinite; uncertain.
2. not clear; vague.
3. not established.
4. not settled or decided.
5. Math.
a. (of a quantity) undefined, as 0/0.
b. (of an equation) able to be satisfied by more than one value for each unknown.
6. Bot. (of an inflorescence) having the axis or axes not ending in a flower or bud, thus allowing further elongation.
n.
7. Math. something whose value is not specified: used esp. in abstract algebra; a variable.
[1350-1400; ME < LL indeterminatus. See IN-3, DETERMINATE]
Syn. 2. ambiguous.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Indeterminate — In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • indeterminate — I adjective ambiguous, anceps, boundless, cryptic, dubius, endless, equivocal, featureless, fluctuant, fluid, formless, hazy, ill defined, immeasurable, in a state of uncertainty, in doubt, inarticulated, incalculable, incertus, inconclusive,… …   Law dictionary

  • Indeterminate — has a variety of meanings in mathematics: * Indeterminate (variable) * Indeterminate equation * Statically indeterminate * Indeterminate formIt is also a term in botany and gardening: *Indeterminate growthIt is also used in philosophy to describe …   Wikipedia

  • indeterminate — [in΄dē tʉr′mi nit, in΄ditʉr′mi nit] adj. [LL indeterminatus] 1. not determinate; specif., a) inexact in its limits, nature, etc.; indefinite; uncertain; vague [an indeterminate amount] b) not yet settled, concluded, or known; doubtful or… …   English World dictionary

  • indeterminate — (adj.) late 14c., from L.L. indeterminatus undefined, from in not, opposite of (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + determinatus, pp. of determinare (see DETERMINE (Cf. determine)). Related: Indeterminately …   Etymology dictionary

  • indeterminate — [adj] uncertain, vague borderless, general, imprecise, inconclusive, indefinite, indistinct, inexact, undefined, undetermined, unfixed, unspecified, unstipulated; concept 535 Ant. certain, definite, determined, exact, fixed, measurable, sure …   New thesaurus

  • indeterminate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not exactly known, established, or defined. 2) Mathematics (of a quantity) having no definite or definable value. DERIVATIVES indeterminacy noun indeterminately adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • indeterminate — [[t]ɪ̱ndɪtɜ͟ː(r)mɪnət[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n If something is indeterminate, you cannot say exactly what it is. Dr Amid was a man of indeterminate age... I hope to carry on for an indeterminate period. Syn: indefinite …   English dictionary

  • indeterminate — in·de·ter·mi·nate .in di tərm (ə )nət adj relating to, being, or undergoing indeterminate cleavage <an indeterminate egg> …   Medical dictionary

  • indeterminate — adjective 1) an indeterminate period of time Syn: undetermined, uncertain, unknown, unspecified, unstipulated, indefinite, unfixed Ant: known 2) some indeterminate figures Syn …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • indeterminate — adjective Etymology: Middle English indeterminat, from Late Latin indeterminatus, from Latin in + determinatus, past participle of determinare to determine Date: 14th century 1. a. not definitely or precisely determined or fixed ; vague b. not… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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