Webster's English Dictionary

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parameter

pa.ram.e.ter \p*-'ram-*t-*r\ \.par-*-'me-trik\ n [NL, fr. para- + Gk metron 
   measure - more at MEASURE] 1: an arbitrary constant each of whose values 
   characterizes a member of a s ystem (as a family of curves); specif : a 
   quantity that describes a statistical population 2: a characteristic 
   element or constant factor  - para.met.ric aj