variety

Everyday

1. Variety means having many different kinds of things, not all the same: a menu with variety has lots of choices. tree →
2. A variety of things is a number of different kinds of them: «a variety of fruit». tree →
3. A variety is one particular type of something, especially a type of plant or animal: «a new variety of apple». tree →
4. Variety, or a variety show, is entertainment made of many short acts like songs, jokes and magic. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it praises change and choice: «variety is the spice of life». In science it names a type within a species, like apple varieties. In maths and data, «a variety of» just means several different ones; it gives no exact number. Stories use it to show a busy, colourful scene. Phrases: «a wide variety of», «a variety of reasons», «for variety», «variety show», «variety pack».

Examples

• The school canteen has a good variety of lunches. tree →
• Granny grows ten varieties of tomato. tree →
• We read a variety of books this term, from comics to poems. tree →
• For variety, we had pasta instead of rice. tree →
• The talent show was a variety show with singers, dancers and a juggler. tree →
• Variety is the spice of life, so let's try something new. tree →
• The shop sells a wide variety of pens. tree →
• Penguins come in many varieties, from tiny blue ones to huge emperors. tree →
• His daughter Metra, who was devotedly attached to him, possessed the power of transforming herself into a variety of different animals. tree →

Note

Plural «varieties» (change y to ies). «A variety of + plural noun» usually takes a plural verb: «A variety of birds live here». Adjective: «various» (different kinds); verb: «vary». Trap: «a variety of» does not tell how many in a maths problem; it only says they are different kinds.

In Jewish tradition

In everyday life it praises change and choice: «variety is the spice of life». In science it names a type within a species, like apple varieties. In maths and data, «a variety of» just means several different ones; it gives no exact number. Stories use it to show a busy, colourful scene. Phrases: «a wide variety of», «a variety of reasons», «for variety», «variety show», «variety pack».

Note

Plural «varieties» (change y to ies). «A variety of + plural noun» usually takes a plural verb: «A variety of birds live here». Adjective: «various» (different kinds); verb: «vary». Trap: «a variety of» does not tell how many in a maths problem; it only says they are different kinds.