Meaning

noun a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied to yield a family of similar curves

noun any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance

noun (computer science) a reference or value that is passed to a function, procedure, subroutine, command, or program

originFrom French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0