different between variant vs vary

English

Alternative forms

• variaunt (obsolete)

Etymology

Recorded since c.1380, from Old French variant, from Latin vari?ns, the present active participle of vari? (“to change”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: vâr'?-?nt, IPA^(key): /?v???i.?nt/, /?væ?i.?nt/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?v???i.?nt/

Adjective

variant (comparative more variant, superlative most variant)

1. Showing variety, diverse.
2. Showing deviation or disagreement.
3. (obsolete) Variable.
4. (programming) Covariant and/or contravariant.

Translations

Noun

variant (plural variants)

1. Something that is slightly different from a type or norm.

   All breeds of dog are variants of the species “Canis lupus familiaris”.

   The word "kerosine" is a variant of “kerosene”.

2. (genetics) A different sequence of a gene (locus).
3. (computing) A variable that can hold any of various unrelated data types.
4. (linguistics, lexicography) One of a set of words or other linguistic forms that conveys the same meaning or serves the same function.

Related terms

• variance
• variation
• vary

Translations

See also

• alternate
• alternative

Anagrams

• nativar

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin vari?ns, attested from 1839.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /v?.?i?ant/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /b?.?i?an/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /va.?i?ant/

Adjective

variant (masculine and feminine plural variants)

1. varying

Noun

variant m (plural variants)

1. variant

Related terms

• variar

References

Further reading

• “variant” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “variant” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “variant” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French variant or variante, from Latin vari?ns.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?va?.ri??nt/
• Hyphenation: va?ri?ant
• Rhymes: -?nt

Noun

variant m (plural varianten, diminutive variantje n)

1. A variant.

Synonyms

• variante

Derived terms

Related terms

• variabiliteit
• variabel
• variatie
• variëren
• variëteit

Descendants

• ? Indonesian: varian

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.?j??/

Verb

variant

1. present participle of varier

Adjective

variant (feminine singular variante, masculine plural variants, feminine plural variantes)

1. varied, which varies; variable

Related terms

• variabilité
• variable
• variation

Further reading

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

Latin

Verb

variant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of vari?

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin varians

Noun

variant m (definite singular varianten, indefinite plural varianter, definite plural variantene)

1. a variant

References

• “variant” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin varians

Noun

variant m (definite singular varianten, indefinite plural variantar, definite plural variantane)

1. a variant

References

• “variant” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old French

Adjective

variant m (oblique and nominative feminine singular variant or variante)

1. varying; which varies

Descendants

• ? English: variant
• French: variant

Swedish

Etymology

From French variante, attested from 1779.

Noun

variant c

1. variant

Declension

Related terms

• variera

References

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)