Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors.
  • transitive verb To give variety to; make varied.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To diversify by means of different tints or hues; mark with different colors in irregular patches; spot, streak, dapple, etc.: as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive to add variety to something; to diversify
  • verb transitive to change the appearance of something, especially by covering with patches or streaks of different colour
  • verb to dabble
  • adjective variegated

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors
  • verb make something more diverse and varied

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Late Latin variegātus, past participle of variegāre : Latin varius, various + Latin agere, to do, drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Late Latin variegare ("to make of various sorts or colors"), from Latin varius ("various") + agere ("to make, do").

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Examples

  • Given that 'variegate' means 'to make varied in appearance or colour', what Dr

    Australian Islamist Monitor Martoom 2010

  • In some localities of the Venezuelan coast where waters are crystal-clear, a variegate community of sponges (33 species), tunicates (12), bivalves, and algae, can be found adhered to the submerged roots of R. mangle.

    Coastal Venezuelan mangroves 2008

  • We had the fish, which, as the kind reader may remember, I had brought down in a delicate attention to Mrs. Ponto, to variegate the repast of next day; and cod and oyster-sauce, twice laid, salt cod and scolloped oysters, formed parts of the bill of fare until I began to fancy that the Ponto family, like our late revered monarch

    The Book of Snobs 2006

  • We need houses to protect us from the seasons, and behold the materials with which we are provided; the growth of trees with their adornment of leaves; while rocks of stone piled above the plains variegate the prospect with their pleasant irregularity.

    The Last Man 2003

  • Erythrina variegate is successfully propagated from seed or large stem cuttings.

    Chapter 10 1996

  • 'Tropic Coral': tall erythrina (Erythrina variegate L).

    Chapter 10 1996

  • 'Tropic Coral': tall erythrina (Erythrina variegate L.).

    Chapter 8 1996

  • Commonly used, dual purpose shade/fodder species include Albizia chinensis, A. odoratissima, A. procera, Gliricidia sepium, Erythrina poeptugiana, E. subumbrans and E. variegate.

    Chapter 6 1996

  • Erythrina variegate has a reputation for medicinal properties in India, China and Southeast Asia.

    Chapter 8 1996

  • Farmers in India appreciate E. variegate as fodder, light timber and, more recently, pulp for the paper industry.

    Chapter 10 1996

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