unknown quantity

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English

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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unknown quantity (plural unknown quantities)

  1. (idiomatic) A person or thing whose nature or value is a mystery.
    Antonyms: known quantity, household name
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see unknown,‎ quantity.
    • 2012 January 1, Richard N. Aufmann, Joanne Lockwood, Beginning Algebra[2], Cengage Learning, →ISBN, page 77:
      Many of the applications of mathematics require that you identify an unknown quantity, assign a variable to that quantity, and then attempt to express another unknown quantity in terms of that variable.
    • 2016, Steve Pace, The Projects of Skunk Works: 75 Years of Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs[3], Voyageur Press, →ISBN, page 145:
      So promising was the Skunk Works' stealth cruise missile offering, the USAF ordered an unknown quantity of these missiles under a highly classified program dubbed Senior Prom.

Synonyms

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See also

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References

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