degree of freedom

n 1: an unrestricted variable in a frequency distribution

2: one of the minimum number of parameters needed to describe

the state of a physical system

degrees of freedom

The number of independent parameters required to

specify the position and orientation of an object. Often used

to classify {robot} arms. For example, an arm with six

degrees of freedom could reach any position close enough and

could orient it's end effector (grip or tool etc.) at any

angle about the three perpendicular axes.