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differentiate

dif·fer·en·ti·ate

differentiate

 
 
pronunciation:
dI fr en shi eIt
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (verb)
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: differentiates, differentiating, differentiated
definition 1: to perceive differences or distinctions between.
Some people cannot differentiate blue and green.For the exam in music, we had to differentiate the styles of various composers.
synonyms:
discriminate, distinguish, tell, tell apart
antonyms:
confuse
similar words:
contrast, demarcate, separate
definition 2: to indicate or constitute a difference between.
The birds look quite similar, but markings on their heads differentiate them.
similar words:
characterize, define, distinguish, mark
definition 3: to cause to become different or distinct, esp. by changing.
He differentiated himself from his twin brother by developing his skills as a skier.
synonyms:
distinguish
similar words:
demarcate, separate
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to observe or mark differences.
He could not differentiate between the French wine and the Italian wine.
synonyms:
discriminate, distinguish
similar words:
discern
definition 2: to become distinct or different from something else.
The turtles of this species differentiated, as they evolved on two separate islands.
synonyms:
alter, change
similar words:
adapt, metamorphose, modify, vary
definition 3: of cells or tissue, to become more specialized in function.
What triggers the cells to begin to differentiate?
similar words:
change, develop, specialize
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