vara

American  

[vahr-uh, vah-rah, vah-ruh] / ˈvɑr ə, ˈvɑ rɑ, ˈvɑ rə /

noun

plural

varas

1. a unit of length in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, varying from about 32 inches (81 centimeters) to about 43 inches (109 centimeters).

2. the square vara, used as a unit of area.

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vara British  

/ ˈvɑːrə /

noun

1. a unit of length used in Spain, Portugal, and South America and having different values in different localities, usually between 32 and 43 inches (about 80 to 108 centimetres)

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Etymology

Origin of vara

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish, from Latin vāra “forked pole,” noun use of feminine of vārus “crooked, bent”

Example Sentences

When you put it all together, “en vara asado” sounds a lot like “embarazado.”

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2021

Partial separations may be overlooked at the time of the accident and cause trouble later from bending of the bone, as in one variety of coxa vara.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

“Mind ye, He was unco gentle wi’ the puir despised publicans, and vara tender to the wife that had been a sinner.

From Out in the Forty-Five Duncan Keith's Vow by Holt, Emily Sarah

It's joost a vara keeyourious thing, sir, and joost new coom oop.

From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 2, 1857-1870 by Dickens, Mamie

Coxa Valga.—Coxa valga is the reverse of coxa vara, the angle at the neck of the femur being over 140°.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander