differentiate

[dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt]

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verb (used with object), dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
to change; alter.
to perceive the difference in or between.

to make different by modification, as a biological species.
Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.

verb (used without object), dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
to make a distinction.
Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

Origin of differentiate

1810–20; < Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsdif·fer·en·ti·a·tion, nounin·ter·dif·fer·en·ti·ate, verb (used with object), in·ter·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, in·ter·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.re·dif·fer·en·ti·ate, verb, re·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, re·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.self-dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing, adjectiveun·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms for differentiate

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1. set off. 3. separate.

Synonym study

1. See distinguish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for differentiating

discriminate, separate, extricate, comprehend, understand, discern, vary, modify, transform, adapt, diversify, alter, mark, characterize, know, sever, individualize, contrast, demarcate, individuate

Examples from the Web for differentiating

Historical Examples of differentiating

It is the prime factor in differentiating the races of mankind.
The Goat-gland Transplantation
Sydney B. Flower
It was reduced to differentiating them by the variety of their attributes.
A History of Art in Ancient Egypt, Vol. II (of 2)
Georges Perrot
Even the manner in which the two are formed results in differentiating them.
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
Emile Durkheim
While the Recessives are differentiating toward a female genus.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction
Arabella Kenealy
It signifies the royal prerogative of man, differentiating him from the beasts.
The Terror
Arthur Machen

British Dictionary definitions for differentiating

differentiate

verb

(tr) to serve to distinguish between
(when intr, often foll by between) to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate
(intr) to become dissimilar or distinct
maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)
(intr) (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms

Derived Formsdifferentiator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for differentiating

differentiate

1816, from Medieval Latin differentiatus, past participle of differentiare, from Latin differentia (see difference).

Originally a mathematical term; transitive and non-technical sense of "discriminate between" is from 1876. Earlier, difference had been used as a verb in this sense. Related: Differentiated; differentiating; differentiation.