Commentary: assortment, mixed bad, mixture, miscellany, miscellanea, salmagundi, smorgasbord, potpourri, motley - a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
Examples:
A great assortment of cars was on display.
He had a variety of disorders.
A variety of religions are practiced in this city.
A variety of possibilities are available for the first-year student.
The range and variety of his work is amazing.
Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 1 2
Commentary: a show consisting of a series of short unrelated performances
Examples:
He likes to stay up late and watch old variety shows.
Last night I watched a man eat fire and a comedy sketch on my favorite variety show.
Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 4
Commentary: kind, sort, form - a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality (often in Biology)
Examples:
Sculpture is one variety of art.
You certainly offer a variety of desserts.
Varieties are frequently recognized in botany.
In biology, a variety is a taxonomic category of species that differ slightly from each other in minor but heritable characteristics.
Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 5
Commentary: a difference that is usually pleasant
Examples:
He goes to France every year for variety.
It is a refreshing change to meet a woman mechanic.
Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 6