Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

variegated

 - 5 dictionary results

var⋅i⋅e⋅gat⋅ed

[vair-ee-i-gey-tid, vair-i-gey-]
–adjective
1. varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors.
2. varied; diversified; diverse.

Origin:
1655–65; variegate + -ed 2

var⋅i⋅e⋅gate

[vair-ee-i-geyt, vair-i-geyt]
–verb (used with object), -gat⋅ed, -gat⋅ing.
1. to make varied in appearance, as by adding different colors.
2. to give variety to; diversify.

Origin:
1645–55; < LL variegātus (ptp. of variegāre to make (something) look varied), equiv. to L vari(us) various + -eg- (comb. form of agere to do; see agent ) + -ātus -ate


var⋅i⋅e⋅ga⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To variegated
var·i·e·gate   (vâr'ē-ĭ-gāt', vâr'ĭ-gāt', vār'-)   
tr.v.   var·i·e·gat·ed, var·i·e·gat·ing, var·i·e·gates
  1. To change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors; streak.

  2. To give variety to; make varied.


[From Late Latin variegātus, past participle of variegāre : Latin varius, various + Latin agere, to do, drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
var'i·e·ga'tor n.
var·i·e·gat·ed   (vâr'ē-ĭ-gā'tĭd, vâr'ĭ-gā'-, vār'-)   
adj.  
  1. Having streaks, marks, or patches of a different color or colors; varicolored: "If they recall the Colosseum . . . it is only as a showcase for cats more variegated than any fevered artist's mind could imagine" (Michael Mewshaw).

  2. Distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

variegate 
"to mark with different colors," 1646 (implied in variegation), from L.L. variegatus "made of various sorts or colors," pp. of variegare "diversify with different colors," from varius "spotted, changing, varying" (see vary) + root of agere "to drive" (see act).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see variegated on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: