variegate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: var=ie=gate

CIDE DICTIONARY

variegate, v. t. [L. variegatus, p. p. of variegare to variegate; varius various + agere to move, make. See Various, and Agent.].

 To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak; as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors.  [1913 Webster]
"The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the beauty of the stone."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

variegate, v.tr.
1 mark with irregular patches of different colours.
2 diversify in appearance, esp. in colour.
3 (as variegated adj.) Bot. (of plants) having leaves containing two or more colours.

Derivative

variegation n.

Etymology

L variegare variegat- f. varius various

THESAURUS

variegate

band, bar, bespangle, bespeckle, bespot, blotch, break up, check, checker, dapple, differ, differentiate, dissent, disunify, divaricate, diverge, diversify, dot, flake, fleck, freckle, harlequin, iris, maculate, marble, marbleize, motley, mottle, pepper, polychrome, polychromize, rainbow, relieve, spangle, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, sprinkle, stigmatize, stipple, streak, striate, stripe, stud, tattoo, tessellate, variate, vary, vein

ROGET THESAURUS

variegate

Variegation

VB be variegated, variegate, stripe, streak, checker, chequer, bespeckle, speckle, besprinkle, sprinkle, stipple, maculate, dot, bespot, tattoo, inlay, damascene, embroider, braid, quilt.