indeterminate

[ in-di-tur-muh-nit ]

/ ˌɪn dɪˈtɜr mə nɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR indeterminate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not determinate; not precisely fixed in extent; indefinite; uncertain.

not clear; vague.

not established.

not settled or decided.

Mathematics.

(of a quantity) undefined, as 0/0.
(of an equation) able to be satisfied by more than one value for each unknown.

Botany. (of an inflorescence) having the axis or axes not ending in a flower or bud, thus allowing further elongation.

noun

Mathematics. something whose value is not specified: used especially in abstract algebra; a variable.

Origin of indeterminate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word indēterminātus. See in-³, determinate

SYNONYMS FOR indeterminate

2 ambiguous.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR indeterminate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM indeterminate

in·de·ter·mi·nate·ly, adverb in·de·ter·mi·nate·ness, noun

Words nearby indeterminate

indescribable, indestructible, indeterminable, indeterminacy, indeterminacy principle, indeterminate, indeterminate equation, indeterminate sentence, indeterminate vowel, indetermination, indeterminism

Example sentences from the Web for indeterminate

Counting down the moments they have left with Abdullah, always an indeterminate amount.

Al Jazeera Journo Abdullah El-Shamy Goes On Hunger Strike In Egyptian Jail |Jonathan Krohn |March 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Some gospel music, like Blind Willie Johnson's, chronicles an indeterminate journey to an unknown destination.

Leaps of Faith: Wrestling With Uncertainty and Finding Grace Through the Music of Hiss Golden Messenger |Howard Wolfson |March 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Before that its landscape had been indeterminate—there were even strips where the Kat goes to sea.

Monument Valley From the Eyes of a Krazy Kat and John Ford Fan |Malcolm Jones |February 3, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
But the indeterminate, like music to the sentimental, is a vague stimulus.

The Sense of Beauty |George Santayana

If, however, the links are in involution, these forces become infinite or indeterminate.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 8 |Various
He was lithe, of indeterminate age, but with a look of great determination.

Suite Mentale |Gordon Randall Garrett
In cases of the worst type the indeterminate sentence would doubtless resolve itself into detention for life.

Mental Defectives and Sexual Offenders |W. H. Triggs, Donald McGavin, Frederick Truby King, J. Sands Elliot, Ada G. Patterson, C.E. Matthews and J. Beck
Below these again is rather an indeterminate group from whom water is taken by some of the higher castes, not by others.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 5 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for indeterminate

indeterminate

/ (ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmɪnɪt) /

adjective

uncertain in extent, amount, or nature

not definite; inconclusive an indeterminate reply

unable to be predicted, calculated, or deduced

physics (of an effect) not obeying the law of causality; noncausal

maths

having no numerical meaning, as 0.00 or 0/0
(of an equation) having more than one variable and an unlimited number of solutions

botany another word for indefinite (def. 4)

(of a structure, framework, etc) comprising forces that cannot be fully analysed, esp by vector analysis

Derived forms of indeterminate

indeterminacy, indetermination or indeterminateness, noun indeterminately, adverb

Scientific definitions for indeterminate

indeterminate

[ ĭn′dĭ-tûr′mə-nĭt ]

Continuing to grow at the apical meristem or the terminal bud indefinitely, allowing for the development of an ever-increasing number of plant organs such as leaves, stems, or flowers to the side.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

indeterminate

adjective

noun

Origin of indeterminate

SYNONYMS FOR indeterminate

OTHER WORDS FROM indeterminate

Words nearby indeterminate

Example sentences from the Web for indeterminate

British Dictionary definitions for indeterminate

adjective

Derived forms of indeterminate

Scientific definitions for indeterminate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

indeterminate

adjective

noun

Origin of indeterminate

SYNONYMS FOR indeterminate

OTHER WORDS FROM indeterminate

Words nearby indeterminate

Words related to indeterminate

Example sentences from the Web for indeterminate

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adjective

Derived forms of indeterminate

Scientific definitions for indeterminate

British Dictionary definitions for indeterminate