differentiate
- 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.
- 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
Synonyms for differentiate
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Related Words for differentiating
discriminate, separate, extricate, comprehend, understand, discern, vary, modify, transform, adapt, diversify, alter, mark, characterize, know, sever, individualize, contrast, demarcate, individuateExamples from the Web for differentiating
Historical Examples of differentiating
It is the prime factor in differentiating the races of mankind.
The Goat-gland TransplantationSydney 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 LifeEmile Durkheim
While the Recessives are differentiating toward a female genus.
Feminism and Sex-ExtinctionArabella Kenealy
It signifies the royal prerogative of man, differentiating him from the beasts.
The TerrorArthur Machen
differentiate
- (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
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.