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CONSTANT
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A quantity that does not vary
Synonyms:
constant; constant quantity; invariable
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("constant" is a kind of...):
quantity (the concept that something 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)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A number representing a quantity assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context
Example:
the velocity of light is a constant
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("constant" is a kind of...):
number (a concept of quantity involving zero and units)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "constant"):
Avogadro's number; Avogadro number (the number of molecules in a mole of a substance (approximately 602,250,000,000,000,000,000,000))
Boltzmann's constant (constant used in the calculation of the ideal gas constant)
coefficient (a constant number that serves as a measure of some property or characteristic)
cosmological constant (an arbitrary constant in the equations of general relativity theory)
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))
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)
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)
Hubble's constant; Hubble's parameter; Hubble constant; Hubble parameter ((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 Hubble constant is not actually a constant, but is regarded as measuring the expansion rate today)
ionic charge (the charge on an ion is equal to a constant charge e multiplied by an integer from 1 to 15)
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)
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)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection
Example:
constant as the northern star
Classified under:
Similar:
immutable (constant and unchanging)
staunch; steadfast; unswerving (firm and dependable especially in loyalty)
unfailing; unflagging (unceasing)
Also:
unchangeable (not changeable or subject to change)
faithful (steadfast in affection or allegiance)
stable (resistant to change of position or condition)
invariable (not liable to or capable of 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)
Derivation:
constancy (faithfulness and dependability in personal attachments (especially sexual fidelity))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
Example:
unremitting demands of hunger
Synonyms:
ceaseless; constant; incessant; never-ending; perpetual; unceasing; unremitting
Classified under:
Similar:
continuous; uninterrupted (continuing in time or space without interruption)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Unvarying in nature
Example:
principles of unvarying validity
Synonyms:
changeless; constant; invariant; unvarying
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
invariable (not liable to or capable of change)
Derivation:
constancy (the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation)
Context examples:
His lameness prevented him from taking much exercise; but a mind of usefulness and ingenuity seemed to furnish him with constant employment within.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Jane, you are docile, diligent, disinterested, faithful, constant, and courageous; very gentle, and very heroic: cease to mistrust yourself—I can trust you unreservedly.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
The strength of noncovalent chemical binding between two substances as measured by the dissociation constant of the complex.
(Affinity, NCI Thesaurus)
Alemtuzumab is an IgG1 kappa with human variable framework and constant regions, and complementarity-determining regions derived from a rat monoclonal antibody.
(Alemtuzumab, NCI Thesaurus)
Io’s atmosphere is in a constant state of collapse and repair, and shows that a large fraction of the atmosphere is supported by sublimation of SO2 ice.
(New Research Reveals Fluctuating Atmosphere of Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon, NASA)
The nitrogen values were found to remain constant throughout the period, while the main difference in the increase of carbon was documented for the most recent period.
(Analysis of the Palaeolithic diet finds that, in the prehistoric age, for thousands of years there were no social divisions in food consumption, University of Granada)
This happens because impacts excavate lunar boulders that are ground into soil over tens to hundreds of millions of years by a constant rain of tiny meteorites.
(Moon Data Sheds Light on Earth’s Asteroid Impact History, NASA)
What is new is that Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, will be in near-constant communication with Neptune almost all year, and this month they will align perfectly on February 20.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
The new paper, led by Alex Hayes at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, finds that Titan's seas follow a constant elevation relative to Titan's gravitational pull — just like Earth's oceans.
(Cassini Finds Saturn Moon Has 'Sea Level' Like Earth, NASA)
Fortunately, low-mass stars like TRAPPIST-1 have temperatures and brightnesses that remain relatively constant over trillions of years, punctuated by occasional magnetic flaring events.
(TRAPPIST-1 is Older Than Our Solar System, NASA/JPL)
