variety
[noun]
Synonyms:
- diversity, change, difference, discrepancy, diversification, multifariousness, variation
- range, array, assortment, collection, cross section, medley, miscellany, mixture
- type, brand, breed, category, class, kind, sort, species, strain

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Related Words: diversification, heterogeneity, variation, conglomeration, medley, miscellany, classification, grade, rank

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English Thesaurus: type/kind/sort, kind, sort, form, variety, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

va‧ri‧e‧ty S2 W1 /vəˈraɪəti/ noun (plural varieties)
[Word Family: noun: variable, variance, variant, variety, variability, variation; adjective: variable ≠ invariable, varied, various; adverb: variably ≠ invariably, variously; verb: vary]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: variété, from Latin varietas, from varius; ⇒ various]

1. a variety of something a lot of things of the same type that are different from each other in some way:
The girls come from a variety of different backgrounds.
GRAMMAR
If you are using a variety of before a plural noun, it is better to use a plural verb, although a singular verb is sometimes used:
A variety of techniques were used.

2. [uncountable] the differences within a group, set of actions etc that make it interesting:
I really like the variety the store has to offer.
give/add/bring variety (to something) (=make something more interesting)
Occasionally working from home adds variety to a job.

3. [countable] a type of thing, such as a plant or animal, that is different from others in the same group
variety of
The lake has more than 20 varieties of fish.

4. [countable usually singular] a particular type of person or thing – often used humorously
of the ... variety
Lon has no patience with anything of the child variety.

5. variety is the spice of life used to say that doing a lot of different things, meeting different people etc is what makes life interesting

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

variety
noun
I. not being the same; different kinds of sth
ADJ. amazing, astonishing, bewildering, considerable, endless, enormous, exciting, extraordinary, fascinating, good, great, huge, impressive, incredible, infinite, large, remarkable, rich, surprising, tremendous, vast, wide, wonderful The market sold a bewildering variety of cheeses. the rich variety of the local bird life
VERB + VARIETY add, give, offer Dealing with customers adds variety to the job.
PREP. of … ~ a country of great variety
~ in There is wide variety in shape and colour.
~ of Menus offer a good variety of seafood.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

variety
II. particular type of sth
ADJ. distinctive | common-or-garden, standard | rare, unusual | different There are hundreds of different varieties of apple.
new, old Old varieties of rose can be less resistant to diseases.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

variety

a wide/great/large variety
They hold debates on a wide variety of topics.
a huge/enormous variety
Fruit is eaten by a huge variety of animals and birds.
an infinite/endless variety
There is a seemingly infinite variety of beers to choose from.
a rich variety
A rich variety of plants grow here.
a bewildering variety (=so many that you feel confused)
There is a bewildering variety of roses to choose from.
an amazing variety
The market has an amazing variety of fresh fish.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

type/kind/sort one member of a group of people or things that have similar features or qualities. Type is the usual word to use in scientific or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually use kind or sort:
What type of fish is this?
There are two main personality types.
kind a type of person or thing. Kind is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday English:
What kind of food do you like?
There were all kinds of people there.
The study is the first of its kind in Ireland.
sort especially British English a type of person or thing. Sort is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday British English:
What sort of person is she?
I like all sorts of music.
form one type of something from all the ones that are possible – used especially when things have different physical characteristics, or in certain fixed phrases:
There are many forms of heart disease.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.
The first primitive life forms consumed various materials, including hydrogen sulfide, and released oxygen.
In those days, horses were the commonest form of transport.
We need to use alternative forms of energy.
a popular form of entertainment
variety a type that is slightly different from others in the same group:
The French make many varieties of cheese.
This is a new variety of apple.
species a type of plant or animal, which can breed together to produce plants or animals of the same type:
These forests contain many species of trees.
The giant panda is an endangered species.
of a ... nature formal used when talking about a particular type of thing:
Many people find it embarrassing to discuss problems of a sexual nature.
Minor incidents of this nature normally occur about once a month.
category a group of people or things that are all of the same type – used when there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to:
The three major categories of rock are: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
She won the best actress category at the Oscars.
brand used when talking about the particular way that someone does something or thinks about something, when this is very different from that of other people:
She has her own special brand of humour.
He has called for a more positive brand of politics.
genre formal a type of art, music, literature etc. that has a particular style or feature:
He has written novels in several genres, most notably science fiction.
make a type of product made by a particular company – used especially about things such as machines, equipment, or cars:
'What make of car do you drive?' 'A Ford.'
model one particular type or design of a vehicle, machine etc:
The new models are much faster.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

type/kind/sort one member of a group of people or things that have similar features or qualities. Type is the usual word to use in scientific or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually use kind or sort:
What type of fish is this?
There are two main personality types.
kind a type of person or thing. Kind is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday English:
What kind of food do you like?
There were all kinds of people there.
The study is the first of its kind in Ireland.
sort especially British English a type of person or thing. Sort is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday British English:
What sort of person is she?
I like all sorts of music.
form one type of something from all the ones that are possible – used especially when things have different physical characteristics, or in certain fixed phrases:
There are many forms of heart disease.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.
The first primitive life forms consumed various materials, including hydrogen sulfide, and released oxygen.
In those days, horses were the commonest form of transport.
We need to use alternative forms of energy.
a popular form of entertainment
variety a type that is slightly different from others in the same group:
The French make many varieties of cheese.
This is a new variety of apple.
species a type of plant or animal, which can breed together to produce plants or animals of the same type:
These forests contain many species of trees.
The giant panda is an endangered species.
of a ... nature formal used when talking about a particular type of thing:
Many people find it embarrassing to discuss problems of a sexual nature.
Minor incidents of this nature normally occur about once a month.
category a group of people or things that are all of the same type – used when there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to:
The three major categories of rock are: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
She won the best actress category at the Oscars.
brand used when talking about the particular way that someone does something or thinks about something, when this is very different from that of other people:
She has her own special brand of humour.
He has called for a more positive brand of politics.
genre formal a type of art, music, literature etc. that has a particular style or feature:
He has written novels in several genres, most notably science fiction.
make used about things you make yourself, or things that are made in a factory:
Diane makes all her own clothes.
My camera was made in China.
produce to make something in large quantities to be sold, or to make something as the result of a natural process:
The factory produces high-quality steel.
Japan produces some of the most advanced mobile phones.
The pancreas is a gland in your body which produces hormones.
create to make something new and original:
Tarantino created a whole new style of films.
Many companies invest a lot of money in creating new products.
Potter was famous for creating characters such as ‘Peter Rabbit’.
This technique is used to create images of beautiful forests.
manufacture to make machines, cars, equipment etc in factories:
The company manufactures aircraft parts.
mass-produce to make very large quantities of something in a factory:
They developed a way to mass-produce the drug.
develop to design and make something new over a period of time:
In 1962, Enders developed an effective vaccine against measles.
The company is developing new anti-virus software.
generate to make something such as heat, electricity, or power:
Wind can be used to generate electricity.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

type/kind/sort one member of a group of people or things that have similar features or qualities. Type is the usual word to use in scientific or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually use kind or sort:
What type of fish is this?
There are two main personality types.
kind a type of person or thing. Kind is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday English:
What kind of food do you like?
There were all kinds of people there.
The study is the first of its kind in Ireland.
sort especially British English a type of person or thing. Sort is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday British English:
What sort of person is she?
I like all sorts of music.
form one type of something from all the ones that are possible – used especially when things have different physical characteristics, or in certain fixed phrases:
There are many forms of heart disease.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.
The first primitive life forms consumed various materials, including hydrogen sulfide, and released oxygen.
In those days, horses were the commonest form of transport.
We need to use alternative forms of energy.
a popular form of entertainment
variety a type that is slightly different from others in the same group:
The French make many varieties of cheese.
This is a new variety of apple.
species a type of plant or animal, which can breed together to produce plants or animals of the same type:
These forests contain many species of trees.
The giant panda is an endangered species.
of a ... nature formal used when talking about a particular type of thing:
Many people find it embarrassing to discuss problems of a sexual nature.
Minor incidents of this nature normally occur about once a month.
category a group of people or things that are all of the same type – used when there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to:
The three major categories of rock are: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
She won the best actress category at the Oscars.
brand used when talking about the particular way that someone does something or thinks about something, when this is very different from that of other people:
She has her own special brand of humour.
He has called for a more positive brand of politics.
genre formal a type of art, music, literature etc. that has a particular style or feature:
He has written novels in several genres, most notably science fiction.
nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind:
Everyone has been so nice to me.
It’s nice of you to invite me here.
He seems such a nice man.
generous kind because you give people money, presents etc:
‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’
a generous gift
considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them:
Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down.
a considerate driver
He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone:
It was thoughtful of you to send him a card.
Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
caring kind and wanting to help and look after people:
She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband.
The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them:
My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work.
She gave him a sympathetic smile.
good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases:
It was good of you to come and see me.
She’s always been very good to us.
sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done:
I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door.
It’s sweet of you to ask.
a sweet thing to say
kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you:
He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing.
The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect:
a benevolent ruler
They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind.
He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲