Parameter

n. variable which determines the form of a function; value which is transferred to a function or program and affects its operation (Computers)

Parameters, in the plural form, has recently become popular with non-technical users to mean limits, but this should not be confused with the word's technical meaning.In mathematics, statistics, and the mathematical sciences, parameters (L: auxiliary measure) are quantities that define certain relatively constant characteristics of systems or functions. Often represented by θ in general form, other symbols carry standard, specific meanings. When evaluating the function over a  domain or determining the response of the system over a period of time, the independent variables are varied, while the parameters are held constant. The function or system may then be reevaluated or reprocessed with different parameters, to give a function or system with different behavior.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied to yield a family of similar curves
(synonym) parametric quantity
(hypernym) constant, constant quantity
(hyponym) degree of freedom
2. any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance
(hypernym) factor
3. a quantity (such as the mean or variance) that characterizes a statistical population and that can be estimated by calculations from sample data
(hypernym) quantity

n. parameter, variable which determines the form of a function; value which is transferred to a function or program and affects its operation (Computers)

n. parameter