differentiate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
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to change; alter.
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to perceive the difference in or between.
- Synonyms:
- separate
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to make different by modification, as a biological species.
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Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.
verb (used without object)
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to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
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to make a distinction.
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Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.
verb
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(tr) to serve to distinguish between
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to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate
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(intr) to become dissimilar or distinct
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maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)
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(intr) (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms
Related Words
See distinguish.
Other Word Forms
- differentiation noun
- differentiator noun
- interdifferentiate verb (used with object)
- redifferentiate verb
- self-differentiating adjective
- undifferentiated adjective
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We are proud of what the Depop team has built – a truly differentiated brand and product, grounded in clear purpose and strong community – becoming one of the fastest-growing fashion resale marketplaces in the U.S.,”
From Barron's
They needed new costumes to differentiate from their performances two years ago, and McKinnon had already designed costumes for the team’s rhythm dance to La Bouche’s “Sweet Dreams.”
From Los Angeles Times
“I think we have a pretty differentiated business model and strategy, and, therefore, story that is much more than just quantum computing.”
From Barron's
However, “the software market is trading like a monolith and investors are largely not differentiating risk profiles, competitive positioning and fundamentals of specific companies,” Bhatia noted.
From MarketWatch
Venezuela stands out because of the scale of its reserves and the characteristics of its crude, said Babin — a combination that differentiates it from many other global basins.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
