vapourware

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vapourware {BrE) {NAmE vaporware) /'veipawea(r); NAmE -parwer/ noun [U] (computing if) a piece of soft­ware or other computer product that has been advertised but is not available to buy yet, either because it is only an idea or because it is still being written or designed M-Hr ( E1$r )

vari abil ity /.vearia'bilati; NAmE ,ver-; ,vaer-/ noun [u] the fact of sth being likely to vary              ; BM'fe; fx

H7aE: climatic variability    0 a degree of

variability in the exchange rate vari able /'veariabl; NAmE'ver-; 'vaer-/ adj., noun * adj. 1 often changing; likely to change 0 M (ft; BM $1 ; M it ft # ft FS771 fluctuating : variable tem­peratures M it 7'aE       The acting is of variable

quality (= some of it is good and some of it is bad). 3k ft fftjtf N’.ff* o — compare invariable 2 able to be changed oj M ft; of 3* ft: The drill has variable speed control, Hb W M it S rfell„ 0 variable lighting % Jg rJ iSftMBJBitlir ► vari-ably /-iabli/ adv. u noun a situation, number or quantity that can vary or be varied        With so many

variables, it is difficult to calculate the cost. # & / 0 ft nj M ®  it % Hi W o 0 The temperature

remained constant while pressure was a variable in the experiment.

PTia CONSTANT

vari-ance /'vearians; NAmE 'ver-; 'vaer-/ noun [U, C]

(format) the amount by which sth changes or is different from sth else       It #7 variance in temperature

Zm.ll 0 a note with subtle variances of pitch M it ft W # rTTTl at 'variance (with sb/sth) {formal) disagreeing with or opposing sb/sth  ; 7'Jf;

ft31: These conclusions are totally at variance with the evidence.              0

vari ant /'veariant; NAmE 'ver-; 'vaer-/ noun ~ (of/on sth) a thing that is a slightly different form or type of sth else3£#;  This game is a variant of base­ball        ► vari ant adj. ■.

variant forms of spelling ^7 [W] ft      A 0 a variant

form of oxygen known as ozone

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vari ation 0-w /yeari'eiXn; NAmE,wer-/ noun 1 [C, U] ~ (in/of sth) a change, especially in the amount or level of sth ( BJL Tk^ft ) Mit, MM,

The dial records very slight variations in pressure. W M 0 Currency exchange

rates are always subject to variation. fi ft tfczfoo 0 regional/seasonal variation (= depending on the region or time of year) fife K14 / i 7 14 M it 2 [C] ~ (on sth) a thing that is different from other things in the same general group $#ft£H; This

soup is a spicy variation on a traditional favourite.

3[c]~(on

sth) (music If) any of a set of short pieces of music based on a simple tune repeated in a different and more complicated form $ # ; $ # ft : a set of variations on a theme by Mozart        ~5kft

I! ft —*      # ft 0 (figurative) His numerous complaints

are all variations on a theme (= all about the same thing).

vari cose vein /.vaerikaus 'vein; NAmE -kous/ noun a vein, especially one in the leg, which has become swollen and painful (        HJftft^

varied 0"« /'vearid; NAmE 'verid; 'vaer-/ adj. (usually approving)

1                  of many different types #ft##ft; 7

|WJ ft: varied opinions #ft7l^ftl£JiiL<>a wide and

varied selection of cheeses #3£^^ft^#£i&l$lft#}S&

2                  not staying the same, but changing often f£it$]; 0 M ft; 7 ft: He led a full and varied life, ffeft *7 % j£0ft£Z£o

variegated /'veariageitid; 'vearig-; NAmE 'ver-/ adj. 1 {technical 7 i§) having spots or marks of a different colour Jffi&ft; WKL& ft: a plant with variegated leaves

Of XA #5 2 {formal) consisting of many different types of thing or person Sf&An ft; fl^fefeft variety 0"w /va'raiati/ noun {pi. -ies)

3                  [sing.] ~ /of sth) several different sorts of the same

thing ( n-mvito ) There is a

wide variety of patterns to choose from. ^ft^^^ft® ^nj0 He resigned for a variety of reasons, life & 7#ft®ESSI?R7o:> <> This tool can be used in a variety of ways.         0 I was impressed by the

variety of dishes on offer.

4                  [U] the quality of not being the same or not doing the same thing all the time Mit', £ # it; £ M 'ft HTfl diversity: We all need variety in our diet. 3% Clift if J?

owe want more variety in our work. f£Ci 3 [C] ~ (of sth) a type of a thing, for example a plant or language, that is different from the others in the same general group (    ) Mft, MW; &Wi Apples

come in a great many varieties. ^M<, 0 a rare variety of orchid      0 different varieties

of English # ^ ^ i# 0 My cooking is of the ‘quick and simple’variety.

4 {NAmE also vaude-ville) [U] a form of theatre or tele­vision entertainment that consists of a series of short performances, such as singing, dancing and funny acts

m.      ) =

a variety show/theatre       S / WiTft fTTTl variety is

the spice of 'life (saying) new and exciting experiences make life more interesting

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va'riety meats noun [pi.] {NAmE) = offal va'riety store noun {old-fashioned, NAmE) a shop/store that sells a wide range of goods at low prices ( JflHft j

%m,

vari fo cals /'vearifauklz; NAmE 'verifouklz/ noun [pi.] a pair of glasses in which each lens varies in thickness from the upper part to the lower part. The upper part is for looking at things at a distance, and the lower part is for looking at things that are close to you. Hgllt,

mmm (iH-A±STSffa.   )

— compare bifocals ► varifocal adj. -^-compare BIFOCAL at BIFOCALS

vari ous 0"W /'vearias; NAmE'ver-; 'vaer-/ adj.

1                  several different        # # # # #J H77»

diverse: Tents come in various shapes and sizes, iftil W      0 She took the job for various

reasons.       & =f P?ft*ft®^M 7MlfrXft„ 0 There are

various ways of doing this,

2                  (formal) having many different features

W ^ ^ ^    diverse : a large and various

country       jfcg

vari ous ly /'veariasli; NAmE'ver-; 'vaer-/ adv. {formal) in several different ways, usually by several different people l^##^rT^; ^[W]tfi: He has been variously described as a hero, a genius and a bully.

o The cost has been vari­ously estimated at between £10 million and £20 million.

& 1 ooo jj^mm 2000

varmint /'varmint; NAmE 'varrm-/ noun {old-fashioned, informal) 1 a person, especially a child, who causes trouble        A; (.Xta ) MM, 'kMH 2 a wild

animal, especially a fox, that causes problems Ir #

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varnish /‘varmX; NAmE 'varrmX/ noun, verb a noun [U, C] a liquid that is painted onto wood, metal, etc. and that forms a hard shiny transparent surface when it is dry Z#; MftW:; Xb ¥ 'ft — see also nail

VARNISH at NAIL POLISH

a verb to put varnish on the surface of sthTn • • • Zf ^;

±Zf 'M; Z&Xs ^Zft: [VN] The doors are then stained and varnished, ik ^ H ®^ "fe ^ Zf 0 o (BrE) Josie was sitting at her desk, varnishing her nails, ff ® ^ fE 45 M %, Z^ # Xb ¥ ft o 0 [VN-N] Her nails were varnished a brilliant shade of red. ft ffi.ft ¥ ±Z& 7-M ¥fto

var-sity /'varsati; NAmE 'varrs-/ noun, adj. a noun [C, U] {pi. -ies) 1 {NAmE) the main team that