bound variable

1 definition found

bound variable - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  bound variable
  
     1. A bound variable or formal argument in a function
     definition is replaced by the actual argument when the
     function is applied.  In the lambda abstraction
  
     	\ x . M
  
     x is the bound variable.  However, x is a free variable of
     the term M when M is considered on its own.  M is the scope
     of the binding of x.
  
     2. In logic a bound variable is a quantified variable.  See
     quantifier.