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discriminating

[dih-skrim-uh-ney-ting]
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adjective
  1. differentiating; analytical.
  2. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious: a discriminating interpreter of events.
  3. having excellent taste or judgment: a discriminating interior designer.
  4. differential, as a tariff.
  5. possessing distinctive features; capable of being differentiated; discriminative.
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Origin of discriminating

First recorded in 1640–50; discriminate + -ing2
Related formsdis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbhalf-dis·crim·i·nat·ing, adjectivehalf-dis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·crim·i·nat·ing, adjectivenon·dis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·dis·crim·i·nat·ing, adjectiveo·ver·dis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbqua·si-dis·crim·i·nat·ing, adjectivequa·si-dis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbun·dis·crim·i·nat·ing, adjectiveun·dis·crim·i·nat·ing·ly, adverb
Can be confuseddiscriminating discriminatory

discriminate

[verb dih-skrim-uh-neyt; adjective dih-skrim-uh-nit]
verb (used without object), dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.
  1. to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality: The new law discriminates against foreigners. He discriminates in favor of his relatives.
  2. to note or observe a difference; distinguish accurately: to discriminate between things.
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verb (used with object), dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.
  1. to make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate: a mark that discriminates the original from the copy.
  2. to note or distinguish as different: He can discriminate minute variations in tone.
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adjective
  1. marked by discrimination; making or evidencing nice distinctions: discriminate people; discriminate judgments.
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Origin of discriminate

1620–30; < Latin discrīminātus separated, past participle of discrīmināre. See discriminant, -ate1
Related formsdis·crim·i·nate·ly, adverbhalf-dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjectivepre·dis·crim·i·nate, verb (used with object), pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ing.un·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjective

Synonym study

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

Related Words

choosy, discerning, fastidious, selective, eclectic, refined, finicky, astute, fussy, keen, select, cultivated, acute, careful, distinctive, judicious, opinionated, particular, persnickety, picky

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British Dictionary definitions for discriminating

discriminating

adjective
  1. able to see fine distinctions and differences
  2. discerning in matters of taste
  3. (of a tariff, import duty, etc) levied at differential rates in order to favour or discourage imports or exports
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Derived Formsdiscriminatingly, adverb

discriminate

verb (dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt)
  1. (intr; usually foll by in favour of or against) to single out a particular person, group, etc, for special favour or, esp, disfavour, often because of a characteristic such as race, colour, sex, intelligence, etc
  2. (when intr, foll by between or among) to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguishto discriminate right and wrong; to discriminate between right and wrong
  3. (intr) to constitute or mark a difference
  4. (intr) to be discerning in matters of taste
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adjective (dɪˈskrɪmɪnɪt)
  1. showing or marked by discrimination
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Derived Formsdiscriminately, adverbdiscriminator, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin discrīmināre to divide, from discrīmen a separation, from discernere to discern
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 discriminating

adj.

"possessing discernment," 1792, present participle adjective from discriminate (v.).

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discriminate

v.

1620s, from Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare "to divide, separate," from discrimen (genitive discriminis) "interval, distinction, difference," derived noun from discernere (see discern). The adverse (usually racial) sense is first recorded 1866, American English. Positive sense remains in discriminating. Related: Discriminated. Also used 17c. and after as an adjective meaning "distinct."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper