Hypertext Webster Gateway: "variant"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Variant \Va"ri*ant\, a. [L. varians, p. pr. of variare to
change: cf. F. variant. See {Vary}.]
1. Varying in from, character, or the like; variable;
different; diverse.
2. Changeable; changing; fickle. [Obs.]
He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere. --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Variant \Va"ri*ant\, n. [Cf. F. variante.]
Something which differs in form from another thing, though
really the same; as, a variant from a type in natural
history; a variant of a story or a word.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
variant
adj : differing from a norm or standard; "a variant spelling"
n 1: an event that departs from expectations [syn: {discrepancy},
{variance}]
2: (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ
in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of
microorganisms" [syn: {form}, {strain}, {var.}]
3: a variable quantity that is random [syn: {random variable},
{variate}, {stochastic variable}, {chance variable}]
4: something a little different from others of the same type;
"an experimental version of the night fighter"; "an emery
wheel is a modern variant of the grindstone" [syn: {version},
{variation}]
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