vary
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈvɛəɹi/
ipa: /ˈvɛəɹi/
ipa: /ˈvæɹi/
ipa: /ˈvɛɹi/
ipa: /ˈveːɹi/
note: without the cheer–chair merger
ipa: /ˈveəɹi/
note: New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
ipa: /ˈviəɹi/
ipa: /ˈveɹɪ/
ipa: /ˈveɹe/
note: Lancashire, fair–fur merger
ipa: /ˈvɜːɹɪ/
rhymes: -ɛəɹi
rhymes: -æɹi
homophone: very (only in accents with the Mary–marry–merry merger)
homophone: veery (cheer–chair merger)
Forms: form: varies
form: varying
form: varied
form: varied
Etymology: From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.
Senses: examples: text: He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.
text: We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.
ref: 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:
glosses: To change with time or a similar parameter.
examples: text: You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.
text: a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis
Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.
glosses: To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
examples: text: His mood varies by the hour.
text: The sine function varies between −1 and 1.
text: While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.
ref: 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 1:
glosses: Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.
examples: text: The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.
text: 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.
ref: 1960 February, “The modernisation of Peterborough”, in Trains Illustrated, page 108:
glosses: To display differences.
raw_tags: of the members of a group
examples: text: I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5.
glosses: To be or act different from the usual.
examples: text: God hath[…] varied their inclinations.
ref: 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
text: God hath here / Varied his bounty so with new delights.
ref: 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:
glosses: To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
examples: text: the rich jewel which we vary for
ref: 1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case:
glosses: To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
Synonyms: sense: institute a change in
word: alter
word: change
sense: not to remain constant
word: fluctuate
sense: disagree
word: dissent
sense: disagree
word: take exception
Derived terms: ever-varying
time-varying
varisome
varisyllabic
varying hare
your mileage may vary