1. Statistics. Any of the unrestricted, independent random variables that constitute a statistic.
2. Physics.
   1. Any of the minimum number of coordinates required to specify completely the motion of a mechanical system.
   2. Any of the independent thermodynamic variables, such as pressure, temperature, or composition, required to specify a system with a given number of phases and components.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.