Education ∪ Math ∪ Technology

How do you define variable?

I recently read the Common Core standards for Math for grade 6, which is where the concept of variable appears to be introduced. The standard in question reads:

Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers.

I tweeted this out, and one person responded with this observation:

Clearly this definition of variable is limited, and possibly misleading.

 

How do you define variable with your students? How do you introduce the topic?