di|ver|si|fy

di|ver|si|fy «duh VUR suh fy, dy-», verb, -fied, -fy|ing.

–v.t.

1. to make diverse; give variety to; vary: »

Mountains, plains, trees, and lakes diversify the landscape. The hillocks…diversified the contour of the vale (Thomas Hardy). Sometimes the solemnity of the evening was diversified by a concert, an opera, or even a play (Lytton Strachey).

2. to spread or distribute (investments) among different companies or types of securities: »

[An investment] club should attempt to diversify its holdings, for adequate diversification reduces investment risk (Helen J. McLane and Patricia Hutar).

3. to enlarge (a company or business) by making diverse products.

–v.i.

to become diversified: »

It is also diversifying into the lucrative stainless-steel market (Time).

╂[< Old French diversifier, learned borrowing from Medieval Latin diversificare < Latin dīvertere (see etym. under divert (Cf. ↑divert)) + facere make]