What does variegated mean?
Word: Variegated
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Variegated means having patches or streaks of different colours, often on leaves or petals.
Synonyms: multicoloured
How do you spell variegated?
Syllables: var - i - e - gat - ed
Tricky part: The i and the e sit together in the middle of the word. Many people say only one of them, and the other then drops out of the spelling too.
Watch out for: varigated, varegated
Memory tip: Variety keeps an i and an e side by side too, and this kind of leaf shows a variety of colours.
Variegated in a sentence
Example 1: The variegated ivy trailed down the old stone steps.
Example 2: Coleus plants have variegated leaves in shades of red, yellow and green.
Example 3: We photographed a variegated orchid at the flower show in Gangtok.
Fun Fact
The pale patches on a variegated leaf have little or no chlorophyll, so these plants usually grow more slowly than their all-green relatives.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word variegated as used in the sentence:
The gardener planted a variegated hedge along the school wall.
a) plain
b) dappled
c) patterned
d) speckled
Show answer
a) plain. A plain hedge would be one even colour, the opposite of a mix of colours.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Mother's ivaeetgrad croton brightens the balcony of our flat in Thane.
a) decorated
b) elongated
c) irrigated
d) variegated
Show answer
d) variegated. Spot the v among the letters: irrigated, elongated and decorated have none.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct set of letters to complete the word:
v_rieg_ted
a) e, e
b) e, a
c) a, e
d) a, a
Show answer
d) a, a. The same vowel fills both gaps, one after the v and one before the ted.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. variegated 2. horticulcher 3. perennial 4. foliage
a) the leaves of a plant or tree
b) the science of growing garden plants
c) living for more than two years
d) having mixed colours in marks and stripes
Show answer
b) the science of growing garden plants. Horticulture ends in ture, like agriculture, so the list's ending is wrong.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A gardener points to a variegated leaf. What might you see on it?
a) drops of dew from the night before
b) small holes nibbled by insects
c) cream edges around a green centre
d) a smooth, even shade of green
Show answer
c) cream edges around a green centre
2. Why do many gardeners choose variegated plants for shady corners?
a) Their leaves fall off every morning.
b) Their pale markings brighten the spot.
c) Their roots need no water at all.
d) Their flowers open only in the dark.
Show answer
b) Their pale markings brighten the spot.
