Noun

(varieties)

The quality of being varied; diversity.

A specific variation of something.

A number of different things.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-01, author=Katie L. Burke, volume=101, issue=1, page=64, magazine=(American Scientist)

, title= Ecological Dependency , passage=In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature , David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.” His quest leads him around the world to study a variety of suspect zoonoses—animal-hosted pathogens that infect humans.}}

A state of constant change.

(taxonomy) A rank in a taxonomic classification, below species and subspecies.

(cybernetics) The total number of distinct states of a system.

(cybernetics) Logarithm of the base 2 of the total number of distinct states of a system.

(linguistics) A term used for a specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is a dialect, accent, register, etc. and to its prestige level.

The class of all algebraic structures of a given signature satisfying a given set of identities.

Noun

A being involved in the action of a story.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 26, author=Tasha Robinson, work=The Onion AV Club

, title= Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits , passage=But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it. }}

A distinguishing feature; characteristic.

A complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person or a group.

* Motley

a man of thoroughly subservient character

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=3 , passage=Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.}}

Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength.

He has a great deal of character .

A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma.

Julius Caesar is a great historical character .

A written or printed symbol, or letter.

* Holder

It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.

Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people.

an inscription in the Runic character

* Shakespeare

You know the character to be your brother's?

(computing) One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character.

(informal) A person or individual, especially one who is unknown or raises suspicions.

(mathematics) A complex number representing an element of a finite Abelian group.

Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty.

in the miserable character of a slave

in his character as a magistrate

(dated) The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation.

a man's character for truth and veracity

Her actions give her a bad character .

* Addison

This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.

(dated) A reference given to a servant, attesting to his/her behaviour, competence, etc.