Variable and Flow

noun

• Something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation.
  • usage: "the weather is one variable to be considered"
• A quantity that can assume any of a set of values.
  • synonyms: variable quantity
• A star that varies noticeably in brightness.
  • synonyms: variable star
• A symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity.

adjective

• Liable to or capable of change.
  • usage: "rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable"; "variable winds"; "variable expenses"
• Marked by diversity or difference.
  • usage: "the varying angles of roof slope"; "nature is infinitely variable"
  • synonyms: varying
• Used of a device) designed so that a property (as e. G. Light) can be varied. (
  • usage: "a variable capacitor"; "variable filters in front of the mercury xenon lights"

• (n.) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.
• (n.) That which is variable; that which varies or is subject to change.
• (a.) Liable to vary; too susceptible of change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable; passions are variable.
• (n.) A quantity which may increase or decrease; a quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in the same expression; a variable quantity; as, in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, x and y are variables.
• (a.) Having the capacity of varying or changing; capable of alternation in any manner; changeable; as, variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity.
• (n.) A shifting wind or one that varies in force.

Variable is an element in a model. For example, in the model RS&Pt+1 = a + b Tbill t + et, where RS&Pt+1 is the return on the S&P in month t+1 and Tbill is the Tbill return at month t, both RS&P and Tbill are "variables" because they change through time; i. E., they are not constant.

noun

• The motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases.
  • synonyms: flowing
• The amount of fluid that flows in a given time.
  • synonyms: flow rate, rate of flow
• The act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression.
  • synonyms: stream
• Any uninterrupted stream or discharge.
• Something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously.
  • usage: "a stream of people emptied from the terminal"; "the museum had planned carefully for the flow of visitors"
  • synonyms: stream
• Dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas.
  • usage: "two streams of development run through American history"; "stream of consciousness"; "the flow of thought"; "the current of history"
  • synonyms: stream, current
• The monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause."the women were sickly and subject to excessive menstruation"; "a woman does not take the gout unless her menses be stopped-Hippocrates; "the semen begins to appear in males and to be emitted at the same time of life that the catamenia begin to flow in females-Aristotle
  • synonyms: menstruation, menses, menstruum, catamenia, period

verb

• Move or progress freely as if in a stream.
  • usage: "The crowd flowed out of the stadium"
  • synonyms: flux
• Move along, of liquids.
  • usage: "Water flowed into the cave"; "the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi"
  • synonyms: run, feed, course
• Cause to flow.
  • usage: "The artist flowed the washes on the paper"
• Be abundantly present.
  • usage: "The champagne flowed at the wedding"
• Fall or flow in a certain way.
  • usage: "This dress hangs well"; "Her long black hair flowed down her back"
  • synonyms: hang, fall
• Cover or swamp with water.
• Undergo menstruation.
  • usage: "She started menstruating at the age of 11"
  • synonyms: menstruate

• (v.i.) To proceed; to issue forth; as, wealth flows from industry and economy.
• (n.) Any gentle, gradual movement or procedure of thought, diction, music or the like, resembling the quiet, steady movement of a river; a stream.
• (n.) The tidal setting in of the water from the ocean to the shore. See Ebb and flow, under Ebb.
• (v.i.) To rise, as the tide; -- opposed to ebb; as, the tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.
• (v.t.) To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.
• (n.) A stream of water or other fluid; a current; as, a flow of water; a flow of blood.
• (v.i.) To move with a continual change of place among the particles or parts, as a fluid; to change place or circulate, as a liquid; as, rivers flow from springs and lakes; tears flow from the eyes.
• (v.i.) To have or be in abundance; to abound; to full, so as to run or flow over; to be copious.
• (n.) A continuous movement of something abundant; as, a flow of words.
• (v.t.) To cover with varnish.
• imp. sing. of Fly, v. i.
• (v.i.) To become liquid; to melt.
• (v.i.) To hang loose and waving; as, a flowing mantle; flowing locks.
• (n.) A low-lying piece of watery land; -- called also flow moss and flow bog.
• (v.i.) To glide along smoothly, without harshness or asperties; as, a flowing period; flowing numbers; to sound smoothly to the ear; to be uttered easily.
• (v.i.) To discharge blood in excess from the uterus.