observable

[ uh b-zur-vuh-buh l ]
/ əbˈzɜr və bəl /

adjective

capable of being or liable to be observed; noticeable; visible; discernible: an observable change in attitude.
worthy or important enough to be celebrated, followed, or observed: an observable holiday.
deserving of attention; noteworthy.

Origin of observable

1600–10; < Latin observābilis remarkable, equivalent to observā(re) to observe + -bilis -ble

OTHER WORDS FROM observable

Words nearby observable

obsequent, obsequent stream, obsequies, obsequious, obsequy, observable, observance, observant, observation, observation car, observation post

Scientific definitions for nonobservable

observable
[ əb-zûr′və-bəl ]

A measurable property of a physical system, such as mass or momentum. In quantum mechanics, observables correspond to mathematical operators used in the calculation of measurable quantities. Operators that do not commute, having a nonzero commutator, correspond to observables that cannot be precisely measured at the same time, such as momentum and position. See also uncertainty principle.