Okuzeka
Biology vocabulary · Experiments and Research Methods

Variable

Meaning in biology, with examples

/ˈveriəbəl/nounCore term

In biology, variable means: Any factor that can change in an experiment, such as temperature, light or time. Scientists change one variable and measure its effect on another.

In Turkish: değişken

How it is used

The independent variable is what you change, the dependent variable is what you measure, and controlled variables are kept the same. In reports, you 'control for' a variable to rule out its effect. As an adjective, variable means changeable: variable results.

Example sentences

  1. In this experiment, light intensity is the independent variable and the rate of photosynthesis is the dependent variable.

  2. Temperature was kept constant so that it would not act as a confounding variable.

Common collocations

  • independent variable
  • dependent variable
  • controlled variable
  • confounding variable
  • control for a variable
  • control groupThe group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment being tested, so that its results can be compared with those of the treated group.
  • hypothesisA possible explanation or prediction that can be tested by an experiment or observation. Scientists design studies to support or reject it.
  • replicateOne of several repeats of the same measurement or experiment, done to check that the results are reliable. As a verb, it means to repeat an experiment or, for DNA and viruses, to copy itself.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Experiments and Research Methods

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: