<B>variance, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a difference; disagreement. <BR> <I>Ex. variances in the spelling of proper names.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a difference or discrepancy between two legal statements or documents, as between a writ and a complaint or between evidence and an accusation, sufficient to make them ineffectual. <DD><B> 3. </B>a disagreeing or falling out; discord; quarrel. <BR> <I>Ex. to yield without variance.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>a varying; change; variation. <BR> <I>Ex. a mean daily variance in temperature of eleven degrees.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>(Statistics.) the square of the standard deviation. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Physical Chemistry.) the number of conditions, such as temperature or pressure, which must be fixed in order that the state of the system may be defined; degree of freedom of a system. <BR><I>expr. <B>at variance,</B> <DD><B> a. </B>in a condition of disagreement; differing; conflicting. </I> <I>Ex. The politician's actions are at variance with his promises.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>in a condition of discord or dissension. <BR> <I>Ex. at variance with the neighbors.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="variant">
<B>variant, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>varying; different. <BR> <I>Ex. "Rime" is a variant spelling of "rhyme."</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>variable; changing. <BR> <I>Ex. variant results.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a different form. <DD><B> 2. </B>a different pronunciation or spelling of the same word. <DD><B> 3. </B>an edition or translation of a manuscript, book, or other work, that differs from the common or accepted version. <DD><B> 4. </B>a reworking or revising of an original story, song, or other work. </DL>
<A NAME="variate">
<B>variate, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Statistics.) the size or value of a particular character in one specimen; random variable. </DL>
<A NAME="variation">
<B>variation, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the fact of varying; change. <BR> <I>Ex. variations in color, marked variations of dialect.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the act of changing. <BR> <I>Ex. There was no variation in his expression, whatever his mood.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>the amount of change. <BR> <I>Ex. There was a variation of 30 degrees in the temperature yesterday.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>a varied or changed form. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Music.) <DD><B> a. </B>a tune or theme repeated with changes in rhythm or harmony; a change, modification, or embellishment by which on repetition the theme appears in a new but still recognizable form. <DD><B> b. </B>one of a series of such modifications upon a theme. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Biology.) <DD><B> a. </B>a deviation of an animal or plant from type; deviation or divergence in the structure, character, or function of an organism from those typical of or usual in the species or group or from those of the parents. <DD><B> b. </B>an animal or plant showing such deviation or divergence. <DD><B> 7. </B>(Astronomy.) the deviation of a heavenly body, such as the moon, from its average orbit or motion. <DD><B> 8. </B>(Mathematics.) one of the different ways in which the members of any group or set may be combined. <DD><B> 9. </B>(Geography, Aeronautics.) the angular difference between geographic north and magnetic north from any point. </DL>
<A NAME="variational">
<B>variational, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with variation, especially in its biological senses. </DL>
<A NAME="varicated">
<B>varicated, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having varices, as a shell. </DL>
<A NAME="varication">
<B>varication, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the formation of a varix. <DD><B> 2. </B>a set or system of varices. </DL>
<A NAME="varicella">
<B>varicella, </B>noun. =chicken pox.</DL>
<A NAME="varicellar">
<B>varicellar, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or relating to varicella. </DL>
<A NAME="varicellate">
<B>varicellate, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> marked with or having small varices, as some shells. </DL>
<B>varicose, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>abnormally swollen or enlarged; cirsoid. <BR> <I>Ex. In advanced cases of varicose veins, bluish knotty lumps form along the vein (Hyman S. Rubinstein).</I> <DD><B> 2a. </B>having to do with, affected with, or caused by varicose veins. <DD><B> b. </B>designed to remedy or be used in the treatment of varicose veins. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Biology.) resembling a varix. </DL>
<A NAME="varicosed">
<B>varicosed, </B>adjective. =varicose.</DL>
<A NAME="varicosis">
<B>varicosis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the formation of varicose veins or varices. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=varicosity.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="varicosity">
<B>varicosity, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ties.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the quality or condition of being varicose or abnormally swollen. <DD><B> 2. </B>a varicose part; varix. </DL>
<A NAME="varicotomy">
<B>varicotomy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the surgical removal of a varicose vein. </DL>
<A NAME="varied">
<B>varied, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of different sorts or kinds; having variety. <BR> <I>Ex. a varied assortment of candies.</I> <DD><B> 2a. </B>characterized by, presenting, or having different forms. <BR> <I>Ex. varied shadows at twilight. And changing like that varied gleam is our inconstant shape (Scott).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>changed; altered. <DD><B> 3. </B>having different colors (used especially in the names of birds or animals). <BR> <I>Ex. the varied bunting.</I> adv. <B>variedly.</B> noun <B>variedness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="variedthrush">
<B>varied thrush,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a thrush of western North America, similar to a robin but with a black band across the breast. </DL>
<A NAME="variegate">
<B>variegate, </B>transitive verb, <B>-gated,</B> <B>-gating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to vary in appearance; mark, spot, or streak with different colors. <DD><B> 2. </B>to give variety to. (SYN) diversify. </DL>
<A NAME="variegated">
<B>variegated, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>varied in appearance; marked with patches or spots of different colors; many-colored; varicolored. <BR> <I>Ex. Pansies are usually variegated.</I> (SYN) mottled, dappled. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) having variety; diverse. adv. <B>variegatedly.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="variegation">
<B>variegation, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the condition or quality of being variegated; varied coloring. <DD><B> 2. </B>the act or process of making varied in character. </DL>
<A NAME="variegator">
<B>variegator, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person or thing that variegates. </DL>
<A NAME="varier">
<B>varier, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who varies. </DL>
<A NAME="varietal">
<B>varietal, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of, having to do with, or constituting a variety. <DD><I>noun </I> a kind of wine made almost entirely from one variety of grape and bearing its name. <BR> <I>Ex. His winery is the only one in the state to make varietals ... like Diana, Elvira, Delaware, or Niagara (Harper's).</I> adv. <B>varietally.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="variety">
<B>variety, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ties.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the fact, quality, or condition of being varied; lack of sameness; difference or variation. <BR> <I>Ex. Variety is the spice of life. The variety of her moods kept us guessing.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a number of different kinds. <BR> <I>Ex. The store has a great variety of toys.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a kind or sort. <BR> <I>Ex. Which variety of cake do you prefer?</I> <DD><B> 4a. </B>a division of a species. <DD><B> b. </B>a plant or animal differing from those of the species to which it belongs in some minor but permanent or transmissible particular. <DD><B> 5. </B>a group of domestic animals or cultivated plants whose modifications have been produced by artificial selection. <BR> <I>Ex. a variety of hybrid tea rose.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Especially British.) vaudeville. </DL>
<A NAME="varietymeats">
<B>variety meats,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> various organs of animals, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, sold as extra parts, fancy meats, or meat sundries. </DL>
<A NAME="varietyshow">
<B>variety show,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>an entertainment featuring different kinds of acts, such as songs, dances, acrobatic feats, and comic skits; vaudeville. <DD><B> 2. </B>a theatrical entertainment produced on radio or television and having the characteristics of vaudeville. <BR> <I>Ex. The variety show has won wide popularity because of its high-powered dancing, acrobatic, musical, and wise-cracking performers (Emory S. Bogardus).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="varietystore">
<B>variety store,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) a store that sells a large variety of low-priced goods; dime store. </DL>
<A NAME="variform">
<B>variform, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> varied in form; having various forms. </DL>
<A NAME="varihued">
<B>varihued, </B>adjective. =varicolored.</DL>
<A NAME="variocoupler">
<B>variocoupler, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Electricity.) a kind of transformer having within the primary coil a secondary coil that can be rotated to adjust the mutual inductance. </DL>
<A NAME="variola">
<B>variola, </B>noun. =smallpox.</DL>
<A NAME="variolar">
<B>variolar, </B>adjective. =variolous.</DL>
<A NAME="variolate">
<B>variolate, </B>transitive verb, <B>-lated,</B> <B>-lating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to inoculate with the virus of smallpox. </DL>
<A NAME="variolation">
<B>variolation, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> inoculation with the virus of smallpox. </DL>
<A NAME="variole">
<B>variole, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a marking or depression resembling the pit left by smallpox; foveola. <DD><B> 2. </B>a spherulitic concretion of a variolite. </DL>
<A NAME="variolite">
<B>variolite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a diabasic rock embedded with spherulites that give it a pock-marked appearance when weathered. </DL>
