differentiation

American  

[dif-uh-ren-shee-ey-shuhn] / ˌdɪf əˌrɛn ʃiˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of differentiating, or the state of being differentiated.

2. Mathematics. the operation of finding the differential or derivative of a function.

3. Biology. the process by which cells or tissues change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

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differentiation British  

/ ˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, process, or result of differentiating

2. maths an operation used in calculus in which the derivative of a function or variable is determined; the inverse of integration See integration

3. any process in which a mixture of materials separates out partially or completely into its constituent parts, as in the cooling and solidification of a magma into two or more different rock types or in the gradual separation of an originally homogeneous earth into crust, mantle, and core

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differentiation Scientific  

/ dĭf′ə-rĕn′shē-ā′shən /

1. In calculus, the process of computing the derivative of a function.

2. Compare integration

3. The process by which cells or parts of an organism change during development to serve a specific function. The cells of an animal in its early embryonic phase, for example, are identical at first but develop by differentiation into specific tissues, such as bone, heart muscle, and skin. The factors determining the differentiation of any particular cell are not well understood, but in deuterostomes (vertebrates and other complex animals) they include the location of the cell relative to other cells.

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Etymology

Origin of differentiation

First recorded in 1800–10; differentiat(e) + -ion

Example Sentences

But this indexing factor might underperform if the market goes through a period of less differentiation for stocks or sectors in the S&P 500.

From MarketWatch

Long before the collision with Theia, the early Earth experienced an internal differentiation process.

From Science Daily

There’s a clear differentiation here between how tech companies seek to exploit AI, by creating the repeatable cheaply, and TKO Holdings trying to market the one-off for a hefty price tag.

From MarketWatch

This Goldman Sachs chart shows how the investor debate surrounding how much AI capex spending will pay off is driving differentiation between company returns.

From MarketWatch

"This study has revealed the potential of bone differentiation spheroids using ADSCs for the development of new treatments for spinal fractures," said Sawada.

From Science Daily