different between variance vs vary

English

Alternative forms

• variaunce (obsolete)
• var (abbreviation)

Etymology

From Middle English variance, variaunce, from Old French variance or directly from Anglo-Latin variaunce, veriaunce, wariaunce; all from Latin variantia.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?v???i.?ns/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?væ?i.?nts/ (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (US) IPA^(key): /?v??i.?nts/ (Mary–marry–merry merger)

Noun

variance (countable and uncountable, plural variances)

1. The act of varying or the state of being variable.
2. A difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation.
3. The state of differing or being in conflict.
4. An official permit to do something that is ordinarily forbidden by regulations.
5. (law) A discrepancy between two legal documents.
6. (law) A departure from a cause of action originally in a complaint.
8. (statistics) The second central moment in probability.
9. (physics, chemistry, biology) The number of degrees of freedom in a system.
10. (computing, programming) Covariance and contravariance generally.

    Depending on the variance of the type constructor, the subtyping relation of the simple types may be either preserved, reversed, or ignored for the respective complex types.

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin variantia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.?j??s/
• Rhymes: -??s

Noun

variance f (plural variances)

1. variance

Further reading

• “variance” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin vari? (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?v???i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?v???i/, /?væ?i/, /?v??i/
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (Mary–marry–merry merger)
• Rhymes: -???i
• Homophone: very (accents with the Mary-marry-merry merger)

Verb

vary (third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)

1. (transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.
   • 1695, John Dryden (translator), Observations on the Art of Painting by Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy

     We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.

2. (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.

3. (intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.

   • While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.

4. (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.
5. (intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.

6. (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
7. (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
   • 1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case

     the rich jewel which we vary for

Synonyms

• (institute a change in): alter, change; See also Thesaurus:alter
• (not to remain constant): fluctuate
• (display differences): See also Thesaurus:differ
• (make of different kinds): See also Thesaurus:diversify
• (disagree): dissent, take exception

Derived terms

• varisome

Translations

Noun

vary (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) alteration; change.

Related terms

Further reading

• vary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• arvy

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?var?]

Noun

vary

1. nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of var

Malagasy

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *b??as, from Proto-Austronesian *b??as.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /var?/

Noun

vary

1. rice ((raw) seeds used as food)