indeterminate

/ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/
adjective
  1. Not exactly known, fixed, or decided; vague or uncertain.
    • The painting's age is indeterminate, but it appears to be from the 18th century.
    • She gave an indeterminate answer, neither yes nor no.
    • The cause of the fire remains indeterminate at this point.
  2. In mathematics, having no definite or fixed value; not limited.
    • An indeterminate number of solutions exist for that system of equations.
    • In algebra, x is an indeterminate variable.
    • The equation has an indeterminate form, so it cannot be solved directly.
  3. In botany, describing a type of plant growth where the main stem continues to grow without a fixed limit.
    • Gardeners often stake indeterminate plants to support their continuous growth.
    • Indeterminate tomato plants keep growing and producing fruit all season.
    • Many climbing vines have an indeterminate growth pattern.