v.
Pronunciation: ' ver- ē
Function: verb
Inflected Form: var · ied ; vary · ing
Etymology: Middle English varien, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French varier, from Latin variare, from varius various
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to make a partial change in : make different in some attribute or characteristic b : to make differences between items in : DIVERSIFY
2 : to present under new aspects < vary the rhythm and harmonic treatment>
intransitive verb
1 : to exhibit or undergo change <the sky was constantly vary ing >
2 : DEVIATE , DEPART
3 : to take on successive values < y varies inversely with x >
4 : to exhibit divergence in structural or physiological characters from the typical form
synonyms see CHANGE
– vary · ing · ly \ -i ŋ -l ē \ adverb