diff

¹ American  

[dif] / dɪf /

noun

1. Informal. difference.

   What’s the diff if I go Tuesday or Wednesday?

2. Computers. an operation that computes and displays the data difference or differences between two files, usually between two versions of the same file: Go back to the original program files you downloaded and run a diff to see what has changed.

   Before you submit your work, always do a diff on it.

   Go back to the original program files you downloaded and run a diff to see what has changed.

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verb (used with object)

1. Computers. to compare (data files) and display the difference or differences.

   It’s easier to diff the files if they are in the same repository.

diff. ² American  

abbreviation

1. difference.

2. different.

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Etymology

Origin of diff

First recorded in 1600–25; by shortening

Example Sentences

When I was a little boy, people regularly told me that I resembled the child actor Gary Coleman, star of the popular TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Early in the show’s run, Todd Bridges’ Willis on “Diff’rent Strokes” defined the big brother, a partner in crime you could get in trouble with but would also stick up for you.

From Salon

The researchers are currently working on modifying the system to help combat Clostridioides difficile, commonly referred to as C. diff, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea and colitis, among other symptoms.

From Science Daily

“I wanted to be in scenes with those characters. I don’t even know if I wanted to be actor as much as I wanted to live in those worlds. I wanted to be in the ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ apartment.

From Los Angeles Times

Before long, she was taking roles in the TV sitcoms like Good Times and Diff'rent Strokes.

From BBC