Definitions for varietyvəˈraɪ ɪ ti

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

va•ri•e•ty^*vəˈraɪ ɪ ti(n.)(pl.)-ties.

the state of being diversified:
to give variety to one's diet.
difference; discrepancy.
a number of different types of things, esp. ones in the same general category:
a large variety of fruits.
a kind or sort.
a different form or phase of something:
varieties of experience.
a category within a species, based on some hereditary difference.
a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.
Also called vari′ety show`. an entertainment consisting of a series of brief performances, as of singing, dancing, and comedy.
Category: Showbiz
Ref: vaudeville (def. 1).; music hall 3 (def. 3).

^* Usage: As a collective noun, variety , when preceded by a, is often treated as a plural: A variety of inexpensive goods are sold here. When preceded by the, it is usu. treated as a singular: The variety of products is small. See also collective noun, number.

Origin of variety:

1525–35; < L varietās=vari(us)various+-etās, var. of -itās -ity

Princeton's WordNet

assortment, mixture, mixed bag, miscellany, miscellanea, variety, salmagundi, smorgasbord, potpourri, motley(noun)
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
"a great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions"
diverseness, diversity, multifariousness, variety(noun)
noticeable heterogeneity
"a diversity of possibilities"; "the range and variety of his work is amazing"
variety(noun)
(biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics
"varieties are frequently recognized in botany"
variety show, variety(noun)
a show consisting of a series of short unrelated performances
kind, sort, form, variety(noun)
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
"sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?"
variety, change(noun)
a difference that is usually pleasant
"he goes to France for variety"; "it is a refreshing change to meet a woman mechanic"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

varietyəˈraɪ ɪ ti
many different types
a wide variety of electronic goods
varietyəˈraɪ ɪ ti
one type in a group of many similar things
There are many different varieties of the plant.
varietyəˈraɪ ɪ ti
the fact of being varied
There is a lot of variety in the content of his films.

Wiktionary

variety(Noun)
A specific variation of something
variety(Noun)
A state of constant change
variety(Noun)
A rank in a taxonomic classification, below species and subspecies.
variety(Noun)
The total number of distinct states of a system.
variety(Noun)
Logarithm of the base 2 of the total number of distinct states of a system.
variety(Noun)
a term used for a specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is a dialect, accent, register, etc. and to its prestige level.
variety(Noun)
The class of all algebraic structures of a given signature satisfying a given set of identities.

Origin: From varieté, from varietas, from varius; see various.

Webster Dictionary

Variety(noun)
the quality or state of being various; intermixture or succession of different things; diversity; multifariousness
Variety(noun)
that which is various
Variety(noun)
a number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as, a variety of cottons and silks
Variety(noun)
something varying or differing from others of the same general kind; one of a number of things that are akin; a sort; as, varieties of wood, land, rocks, etc
Variety(noun)
an individual, or group of individuals, of a species differing from the rest in some one or more of the characteristics typical of the species, and capable either of perpetuating itself for a period, or of being perpetuated by artificial means; hence, a subdivision, or peculiar form, of a species
Variety(noun)
in inorganic nature, one of those forms in which a species may occur, which differ in minor characteristics of structure, color, purity of composition, etc