English noun: unknown quantity | |||
1. | unknown quantity (event) a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent | ||
Samples | I don't know what the new man will do; he's still an unknown quantity. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | factor | ||
2. | unknown quantity (communication) a variable whose values are solutions of an equation | ||
Synonyms | unknown | ||
Broader (hypernym) | variable | ||