CONSTANT

Pronunciation (US):

• CONSTANT (noun)
  The noun CONSTANT has 2 senses:

1. a quantity that does not vary
2. a number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context

  Familiarity information: CONSTANT used as a noun is rare.

• CONSTANT (adjective)
  The adjective CONSTANT has 4 senses:

1. persistent in occurrence and unvarying in nature
2. continually recurring or continuing without interruption
3. steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection
4. uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing

  Familiarity information: CONSTANT used as an adjective is uncommon.

• CONSTANT (noun)

Meaning:

A quantity that does not vary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

constant; constant quantity; invariable

Hypernyms ("constant" is a kind of...):

quantity (something that has a magnitude and can be represented in mathematical expressions by a constant or a variable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "constant"):

parameter; parametric quantity (a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied to yield a family of similar curves)

Meaning:

A number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Context example:

the velocity of light is a constant

Hypernyms ("constant" is a kind of...):

number (a concept of quantity derived from zero and units)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "constant"):

constant of proportionality; factor of proportionality (the constant value of the ratio of two proportional quantities x and y; usually written y = kx, where k is the factor of proportionality)

ionic charge (the charge on an ion is equal to a constant charge e multiplied by an integer from 1 to 15)

Hubble constant; Hubble's constant ((cosmology) the ratio of the speed of recession of a galaxy (due to the expansion of the universe) to its distance from the observer; the reciprocal of the Hubble constant is the age of the universe)

constant of gravitation; G; gravitational constant; universal gravitational constant ((physics) the universal constant relating force to mass and distance in Newton's law of gravitation)

gas constant; R; universal gas constant ((physics) the universal constant in the gas equation: pressure times volume = R times temperature; equal to 8.3143 joules per kelvin per mole)

equilibrium constant ((chemistry) the ratio of concentrations when equilibrium is reached in a reversible reaction (when the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction))

cosmological constant (an arbitrary constant in the equations of general relativity theory)

coefficient (a constant number that serves as a measure of some property or characteristic)

Boltzmann's constant (constant used in the calculation of the ideal gas constant)

Avogadro number; Avogadro's number (the number of molecules in a mole of a substance (approximately 602,250,000,000,000,000,000,000))

c; light speed; speed of light (the speed at which light travels in a vacuum; the constancy and universality of the speed of light is recognized by defining it to be exactly 299,792,458 meters per second)

• CONSTANT (adjective)

Meaning:

Persistent in occurrence and unvarying in nature

Synonyms:

constant; unvarying; changeless; invariant

Context examples:

maintained a constant temperature / principles of unvarying validity

Similar:

invariable (not liable to or capable of change)

Meaning:

Continually recurring or continuing without interruption

Synonyms:

continuant; constant

Context examples:

constant repetition of the exercise / constant chatter of monkeys

Similar:

continual (seemingly without interruption; chiefly restricted to what recurs regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series)

Meaning:

Steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection

Context examples:

a man constant in adherence to his ideals / a constant lover / constant as the northern star

Similar:

staunch; steadfast; unswerving (firm and dependable especially in loyalty)

unfailing; unflagging (unceasing)

Also:

invariable (not liable to or capable of change)

stable (resistant to change of position or condition)

faithful (steadfast in affection or allegiance)

unchangeable (not changeable or subject to change)

Attribute:

constancy; stability (the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation)

Antonym:

inconstant (likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable)

Meaning:

Uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing

Synonyms:

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

Context examples:

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

Similar:

continuous; uninterrupted (continuing in time or space without interruption)