/ˈvɛɹi/ General American, Canada, Mary–marry–merry merger
Etymology
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.
Meanings
(obsolete, uncountable) alteration; change.
With euery gall, and varry of their Masters, 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]:
/ˈvɛɹi/ General American, Canada, Mary–marry–merry merger
Etymology
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.
Meanings
(transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.
We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies. 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:
He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.
(transitive) To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis
Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.
You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.
(intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.
The sine function varies between −1 and 1.
[F]ear and anger, vvith alternate Grace, / Pant in her Breaſt, and vary in her Face! 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 44:
His mood varies by the hour.
(intransitive, of the members of a group) To display differences.
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. 1960 February, “The modernisation of Peterborough”, in Trains Illustrated, page 108:
The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.
(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.
God hath[…] varied their inclinations. 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
God hath here / Varied his bounty so with new delights. 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:
(transitive) 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.
the rich jewel which we vary for 1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case:
pl różnić się (to display difference) · nl variëren (not to remain constant) · pl zmieniać się (not to remain constant) · hu variál (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · pt variar (not to remain constant) · cy ymrafael (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · fi vaihdella (not to remain constant) · pt variar (to display difference) · la variō (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · fi vaihdella (to act different from usual) · it variare (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · ka ცვლილება (not to remain constant) · fr varier (not to remain constant) · gd caochail (not to remain constant) · pl zmienić (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · gd caochail (to act different from usual) · hu váltogat (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · mi whakarerekē (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · fi vaihdella (to display difference) · es variar (to act different from usual) · ka გამოცვლა (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · la variō (not to remain constant) · fi vaihdella (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · am ለዋወጠ (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · bg променям (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · arz غير (not to remain constant) · de variieren (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · sv variera (not to remain constant) · nl variëren (to display difference) · mi tītaha (to act different from usual) · es variar (not to remain constant) · ka ვარირება (not to remain constant) · ca variar (not to remain constant) · pt variar (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · ka შეცვლა (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · bg варирам (not to remain constant) · es variar (to display difference) · sv variera (to display difference) · sv variera (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · de verändern (not to remain constant) · gd caochail (to display difference) · pl zmieniać (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · fr varier (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · bg различавам се (to display difference) · bg изменя (to act different from usual) · pl zmienić się (not to remain constant) · hu változtat (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · nl variëren (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · es variar (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · pt variar (to act different from usual) · bg изменям (to act different from usual) · arz نوع (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · pms varì (to change something with time or a similar parameter) · bg изменям (to change something with time or a similar parameter)