Vary

//ˈvɛəɹi// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    alteration; change. obsolete, uncountable

    "With euery gall, and varry of their Masters,"

Verb
  1. 1
    To change with time or a similar parameter. transitive

    "He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice."

  2. 2
    become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence wordnet
  3. 3
    To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify. transitive

    "You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end."

  4. 4
    make something more diverse and varied wordnet
  5. 5
    Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter. intransitive

    "His mood varies by the hour."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    be at variance with; be out of line with wordnet
  2. 7
    To display differences. intransitive

    "The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing."

  3. 8
    be subject to change in accordance with a variable wordnet
  4. 9
    To be or act different from the usual. intransitive

    "I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5."

  5. 10
    To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate. transitive

    "God hath[…] varied their inclinations."

  6. 11
    To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation. transitive
  7. 12
    To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension. intransitive, obsolete

    "the rich jewel which we vary for"

Etymology

Etymology 1

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

Etymology 2

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

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