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• diff
  diff

  noun

  difference.
• diff.
  diff.

  abbreviation

  difference.

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

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 • Nov. 20, 2024

"If antimicrobial resistance increases in both antibiotics, it will complicate the management of C. diff infection leading us back to a pre-antibiotic era."

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

AGA encourages patients interested in FMT for conditions other than C. diff to participate in a clinical trial.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Kevin Garey, Robert L. Boblitt Endowed Professor of Drug Discovery at the UH College of Pharmacy, assessed the pharmacokinetics and gut microbiome effects of oral Omadacycline in comparison to Vancomycin, another possible C diff drug.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

The inexperienced pilots had trouble steering toward the diff lights, which marked the beaches, and often brought the boats to shore on the rocks.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides