varied

1. 1
   adjective

   Consisting of many different kinds; diverse or miscellaneous.

   The museum's collection is remarkably varied, spanning ancient pottery to modern sculpture.

   Critics praised the album for its varied arrangements and shifting moods.

   Similareclectic

   Oppositeuniform, homogeneous, monotonous, limited

   Note

   The everyday adjective, and the one that grades: more varied, most varied, a remarkably varied menu. It praises range across interests, landscapes or careers, and it often pairs with a second adjective, as in colorful and varied sedimentary rocks. Eclectic is close but suggests choosing from many sources. This sense only says the kinds differ, and it does not mean streaked or patched like the "variegated" sense.

2. 2
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of vary.

   The test results varied depending on the room temperature.

   Over the decades, the festival's format has varied considerably.

   Note

   One spelling serves as both the simple past and the past participle, and the final y of vary turns to i before -ed. As a participle it takes have for the perfect (prices have varied). In its transitive uses it can also take be for the passive (the route was varied each week). Intransitive uses, as in results varied, have no passive. The same spelling also serves as the "diverse" adjective.

3. 3
   adjective

   Having been changed or modified from an original form or state.

   Engineers tested the varied design under a heavier load than the prototype.

   The varied contract included several conditions added during last week's negotiations.

   Similarmodified, altered, changed, amended

   Oppositeoriginal, unchanged, unaltered

   Note

   The participle of "to modify" turned adjective: a varied design is one someone has altered, not one with many parts. Unlike the "diverse" meaning, it describes a change from an earlier version, not a range of kinds. That makes a phrase like a varied plan ambiguous, so context, or a clearer word such as modified, has to do the work.

4. 4
   adjective

   Marked with patches, streaks, or zones of different colors.

   The gardener prized a varied holly whose foliage was edged in gold and deep green.

   Its varied petals showed irregular streaks of pink against a white background.

   Similarvariegated, mottled, streaked, multicolored, dappled

   Oppositeplain, solid, uniform, monochrome

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