# vary
## English
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈvɛəɹi/
* (General American) IPA: /ˈvɛəɹi/, /ˈvæɹi/, /ˈvɛɹi/
** Audio (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger); /ˈvɛəɹi/:(file)
** Audio (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger); /ˈvæɹi/:(file)
** Audio (US, Mary–marry–merry merger); /ˈvɛɹi/:(file)
* (General Australian) IPA: /ˈveːɹi/
* (New Zealand, without the cheer–chair merger) IPA: /ˈveəɹi/
* (New Zealand, cheer–chair merger) IPA: /ˈviəɹi/
* (Scotland) IPA: /ˈveɹɪ/, /ˈveɹe/
* (Lancashire, fair–fur merger) IPA: /ˈvɜːɹɪ/
* Rhymes: -ɛəɹi
* Rhymes: -æɹi
* Homophones: very (only in accents with the Mary–marry–merry merger); veery (cheer–chair merger)

### Verb

vary (third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)
* (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.
** 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.
* (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.
* (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.
** 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 1:While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.
* (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.
* (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.
* (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.
** 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:God hath […] varied their inclinations.
** 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:God hath here / Varied his bounty so with new delights.
* (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
* (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

#### Synonyms

* (institute a change in): alter, change; See also Thesaurus:alter
* (not to remain constant): fluctuate
* (display differences): See also Thesaurus:differ
* (make of different kinds): See also Thesaurus:diversify
* (disagree): dissent, take exception

#### Derived terms

* ever-varying
* time-varying
* varisome
* varisyllabic
* varying hare
* your mileage may vary

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### Noun

vary (uncountable)
* (obsolete) alteration; change.
** c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:With euery gall, and varry of their Masters,

#### Related terms

* variability
* variable
* variance
* variant
* variation
* varied
* variety
* various

#### Further reading

* “vary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
* William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “vary”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

### Anagrams

* arvy

## Czech
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈvarɪ]

### Noun

vary
* nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of var

## Malagasy
### Etymology

* From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀas, from Proto-Austronesian *bəʀas. False cognate of Telugu వరి (vari).
* From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pajay (“rice plant”), from Proto-Austronesian *pajay (“rice plant”). Doublet of fary (“sugar cane”). Compare Ma'anyan parei, Javanese ꦥꦫꦶ (pari), Malay padi and Tagalog palay.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /varʲ/

### Noun

vary
* rice ((raw) seeds used as food)