vara

[ vahr-uh; Spanish bah-rah; Portuguese vah-ruh ]
/ ˈvɑr ə; Spanish ˈbɑ rɑ; Portuguese ˈvɑ rə /

noun, plural va·ras [vahr-uh z; Spanish bah-rahs; Portuguese vah-ruh sh] /ˈvɑr əz; Spanish ˈbɑ rɑs; Portuguese ˈvɑ rəʃ/.

a unit of length in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, varying from about 32 inches (81 cm) to about 43 inches (109 cm).
the square vara, used as a unit of area.

Origin of vara

1595–1605; < Spanish < Latin vāra forked pole, noun use of feminine of vārus crooked, bent

Example sentences from the Web for vara

British Dictionary definitions for vara

vara
/ (ˈvɑːrə) /

noun

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)

Word Origin for vara

C17: via Spanish from Latin: wooden trestle, from vārus crooked