1 diversity; absence of uniformity; many-sidedness; the condition of being various (not enough variety in our lives).
2 a quantity or collection of different things (for a variety of reasons).
3 a a class of things different in some common qualities from the rest of a larger class to which they belong. b a specimen or member of such a class.
4 (foll. by of) a different form of a thing, quality, etc.
5 Biol. a a subspecies. b a cultivar. c an individual or group usually fertile within the species to which it belongs but differing from the species type in some qualities capable of perpetuation.
6 a mixed sequence of dances, songs, comedy acts, etc. (usu. attrib.: a variety show).
Phrases and idioms:
variety store US a shop selling many kinds of small items.
Etymology: F varieacuteteacute or L varietas (as VARIOUS)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.