Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

1 N‑UNCOUNT If something has variety , it consists of things which are different from each other. □ [+ in ] Susan's idea of freedom was to have variety in her lifestyle.

2 N‑SING A variety of things is a number of different kinds or examples of the same thing. □ [+ of ] The island offers such a wide variety of scenery and wildlife. □ [+ of ] People change their mind for a variety of reasons.

3 N‑COUNT A variety of something is a type of it. □ [+ of ] She has 12 varieties of old-fashioned roses.

vari|ous ◆◆◇ /veə riəs/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that there are various things, you mean there are several different things of the type mentioned. □  The school has received various grants from the education department.

2 ADJ If a number of things are described as various , they are very different from one another. □  The methods are many and various. □  …the country's rich and various heritage.

vari|ous|ly /veə riəsli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] You can use variously to introduce a number of different ways in which something can be described. □  …the crowds, which were variously estimated at two to several thousand.

var|nish /vɑː ^r n I ʃ/ (varnishes , varnishing , varnished )

1 N‑VAR Varnish is an oily liquid which is painted onto wood or other material to give it a hard, clear, shiny surface. □  The varnish comes in six natural wood shades.

2 N‑SING The varnish on an object is the hard, clear, shiny surface that it has when it has been painted with varnish. □  He brought out the fiddle, its varnish cracked and blistered.

3 VERB If you varnish something, you paint it with varnish. □ [V n] Varnish the table with two or three coats of water-based varnish. □ [V -ed] …the varnished floorboards.

4 → see also nail varnish

var|sity /vɑː ^r s I ti/ (varsities )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] People sometimes use varsity to describe things that relate to universities, especially sports activities or teams at a university or competitions between universities. [BRIT , mainly JOURNALISM ] □  Women must have the same opportunities to participate in varsity sports.

2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] The varsity is the main or first team for a particular sport at a high school, college, or university. [AM ] □  She has been in the playoffs every year since she made the varsity.

vary ◆◇◇ /veə ri/ (varies , varying , varied )

1 VERB If things vary , they are different from each other in size, amount, or degree. □ [V ] As they're handmade, each one varies slightly. □ [V + from ] The text varies from the earlier versions. □ [V -ing] Different writers will prepare to varying degrees.

2 VERB If something varies or if you vary it, it becomes different or changed. □ [V ] Ferry times vary according to seasons. □ [V n] You are welcome to vary the diet.

3 → see also varied SYNONYMS vary VERB

1

differ:The story he told police differed from the one he told his mother.

diverge:His interests increasingly diverged from those of his colleagues.

contrast with:Johnson's easy charm contrasted sharply with the moody behaviour of his boss.

2

change:A changing world has put pressures on the corporation.

transform:Your metabolic rate is the speed at which your body transforms food into energy.

alter:Little had altered in the village.