differentiate

American  

[dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt] / ˌdɪf əˈrɛn ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

differentiates, present (3rd person singular) differentiated, past participle, past differentiating present participle

1. to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.

2. to change; alter.

3. to perceive the difference in or between.

   Synonyms:

   separate

4. to make different by modification, as a biological species.

5. Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.

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verb (used without object)

differentiates, present (3rd person singular) differentiated, past participle, past differentiating present participle

1. to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.

2. to make a distinction.

3. Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

differentiate British  

/ ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to serve to distinguish between

2. to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate

3. (intr) to become dissimilar or distinct

4. maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)

5. (intr) (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms

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Synonym Usage

See distinguish.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-differentiating
  adjective
• redifferentiate
  verb
• differentiation
  noun
• differentiator
  noun
• undifferentiated
  adjective
• interdifferentiate
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have differentiated
  perfect
• has differentiated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been differentiating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is differentiating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• differentiates
  singular 3rd person
• am differentiating
  progressive 1st person singular
• are differentiating
  progressive
• have been differentiating
  perfect progressive
• differentiating
  participle

Past

• had differentiated
  perfect
• was differentiating
  progressive singular
• differentiated
  simple
• were differentiating
  progressive plural
• had been differentiating
  perfect progressive
• differentiated
  participle

Future

• will differentiate
  simple
• will have differentiated
  perfect
• will have been differentiating
  perfect progressive
• will be differentiating
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of differentiate

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre ), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

To differentiate is to identify the differences between things, to discriminate among them. For example, if the light is dim at the party, you might find it hard to differentiate between the spicy bean dip and the chocolate sauce. You can see different in differentiate. This will help you remember that it has to do with finding how things are different, or making them different. For example, identical twins look alike but if you get to know them, personality traits, speech patterns and their likes and dislikes help differentiate one from another. Also, when you wear a team uniform the number on your back helps coaches differentiate between teammates when everyone is playing fast.

Related Words

• adapt
• alter
• diversify
• modify
• transform
• vary