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observable

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

RELATED WORDS

detectable, perceptible, discernible, appreciable, noticeable, clear, evident, obvious, open, palpable, patent, perceivable, sensible, tangible, visible, discoverable, recognizable

Nearby words

  1. obsequent,
  2. obsequent stream,
  3. obsequies,
  4. obsequious,
  5. obsequy,
  6. observance,
  7. observant,
  8. observation,
  9. observation car,
  10. observation post

Origin of observable

1600–10; < Latin observābilis remarkable, equivalent to observā(re) to observe + -bilis -ble
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for observable

Word Origin and History for observable

observable

adj.

c.1600, from Latin observabilis "remarkable, observable," from observare (see observe). Related: Observably; observability.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Science definitions for observable

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.