variare

Variare is an Italian verb meaning to vary or to change. It can denote altering characteristics, quantities, or conditions, and is used both transitively (variare i prezzi, to vary the prices) and intransitively (i gusti variano, tastes vary). The sense can be neutral, indicates fluctuation, or imply adjustment to new circumstances, depending on context.

Etymology and related terms: the verb derives from the Latin varius, meaning varied or diverse. Related Italian nouns include variazione (variation) and variante (variant). In statistics the corresponding term is varianza (variance). In music, variazione refers to a set of variations on a theme.

Grammar and usage: variare is a regular -are verb and follows standard conjugation patterns. Present indicative forms include io vario, tu vari, lui/lei varia, noi variamo, voi variate, loro variano. The imperfect and other tenses align with typical -are conjugations (e.g., variavo, variavi, variava, variavamo, variavate, variavano). The past participle is variato, used with avere in most transitive uses (ho variato i parametri) and with essere in certain intransitive contexts (i parametri sono variati).

See also: variante, variazione, varianza.