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.
vas|cu|lar /væ skjʊlə r / ADJ [ADJ n] Vascular is used to describe the channels and veins through which fluids pass in the bodies of animals and plants. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the oldest known vascular plants. □ …vascular diseases of the legs.
vase /vɑː z, [AM ] ve I s/ (vases ) N‑COUNT A vase is a jar, usually made of glass or pottery, used for holding cut flowers or as an ornament. □ …a vase of red roses.
vas|ec|to|my /vəse ktəmi/ (vasectomies ) N‑VAR A vasectomy is a surgical operation in which the tube that carries sperm to a man's penis is cut, usually as a means of contraception.
Vas|eline /væ səliːn/ N‑UNCOUNT Vaseline is a soft clear jelly made from petroleum, which is used to protect the skin and for other purposes. [TRADEMARK ]
vas|sal /væ s ə l/ (vassals )
1 N‑COUNT In feudal society, a vassal was a man who gave military service to a lord, in return for which he was protected by the lord and received land to live on.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that one country is a vassal of another, you mean that it is controlled by it. [WRITTEN , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] The question is whether the country is destined to end up as a vassal of its larger northern neighbour.
vast ◆◇◇ /vɑː st, væ st/ (vaster , vastest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is vast is extremely large. □ …Afrikaner farmers who own vast stretches of land. □ The vast majority of the eggs would be cracked. ● vast|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the vastness of the desert. SYNONYMS vast ADJ 1
huge: …a tiny little woman with huge black glasses.
massive: …a massive steam boat.
enormous: The main bedroom is enormous.
immense: …an immense cloud of smoke.
vast|ly /vɑː stli, væ st-/ ADV Vastly means to an extremely great degree or extent. □ The jury has heard two vastly different accounts of what happened.