Wiktionary

vary

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.

PronunciationEdit

VerbEdit

vary (third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)

  1. (transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.
    He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.
  2. (transitive) To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
    You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.
    • a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis
      Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.
  3. (intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.
    His mood varies by the hour.
    The sine function varies between −1 and 1.
  4. (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.
    The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.
    • 1960 February, “The modernisation of Peterborough”, in Trains Illustrated, page 108:
      In the new layout, it is proposed to provide three island platforms with six platform faces varying from 1,075 to 1,290 ft. in length and including bays.
  5. (intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.
    I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5.
  6. (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
  7. (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
  8. (intransitive, obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
    • 1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case
      the rich jewel which we vary for

SynonymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

to institute a change in — see modify
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NounEdit

vary (uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) alteration; change.

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit

AnagramsEdit

CzechEdit

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

vary

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of var

MalagasyEdit

EtymologyEdit

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

vary

  1. rice ((raw) seeds used as food)
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