adjective
- characterized by or exhibiting variety; various; diverse; diversified: varied backgrounds.
- changed; altered: a varied estimate.
- having several different colors; variegated.
verb (used with object), var·ied, var·y·ing.
- to change or alter, as in form, appearance, character, or substance: to vary one’s methods.
- to cause to be different from something else: The orchestra varied last night’s program with one new selection.
- to avoid or relieve from uniformity or monotony; diversify: to vary one’s diet.
- Music. to alter (a melody or theme) by modification or embellishments without changing its identity.
verb (used without object), var·ied, var·y·ing.
- to show diversity; be different: The age at which children are ready to read varies.
- to undergo change in appearance, form, substance, character, etc.: The landscape begins to vary as one drives south.
- to change periodically or in succession; differ or alternate: Demand for certain products varies with the season.
- to diverge; depart; deviate (usually followed by from): to vary from the norm.
- Mathematics. to be subject to change.
- Biology. to exhibit variation.
adjective
- displaying or characterized by variety; diverse
- modified or alteredthe amount may be varied without notice
- varicoloured; variegated
verb varies, varying or varied
- to undergo or cause to undergo change, alteration, or modification in appearance, character, form, attribute, etc
- to be different or cause to be different; be subject to change
- (tr) to give variety to
- (intr foll by from) to differ, as from a convention, standard, etc
- (intr) to change in accordance with another variableher mood varies with the weather; pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume
- (tr) music to modify (a theme) by the use of variation
“differing from one another,” 1580s, from past participle of vary (q.v.).
mid-14c. (transitive); late 14c. (intransitive), from Old French varier, from Latin variare “change, alter, make different,” from varius “varied, different, spotted;” perhaps related to varus “bent, crooked, knock-kneed,” and varix “varicose vein,” from a PIE root *wer- (1) “high raised spot or other bodily infirmity” (cf. Old English wearte “wart,” Swedish varbulde “pus swelling,” Latin verruca “wart”). Related: Varied; varying.
v.
- To make or cause changes in the characteristics or attributes of; modify or alter.
- To undergo or show change.
- To be different; deviate.