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difference
[ dif-er-uhns, dif-ruhns ]
noun
- the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity:
There is a great difference between the two.
Synonyms: contrariety, contrast, divergence, inequality, imbalance, diversity, variation, inconsistency
Antonyms: agreement, similarity
- an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity:
What accounts for the differences in their behavior?
- a significant change in or effect on a situation:
His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.
- a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc.:
The difference in the two products is quality.
- the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.
- the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.
- a disagreement in opinion.
- a dispute or quarrel.
- Also called fi·nite dis·tance [fahy, -nahyt , dis, -t, uh, ns]. Mathematics.
- the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
- (of a function f ) an expression of the form f ( x + h ) − f ( x ).
- a differentia.
verb (used with object)
- to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.
- to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.
difference
/ ˈdɪfrəns; ˈdɪfərəns /
noun
- the state or quality of being unlike
- a specific instance of being unlike
- a distinguishing mark or feature
- a significant change in a situation
the difference in her is amazing
- a disagreement or argument
he had a difference with his wife
- a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things
- the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another
- the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder
- logic another name for differentia
- maths of two sets
- the set of members of the first that are not members of the second A – B
- the set of members of one but not both of the given sets Often symbolizedA + B
- heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch
- make a difference
- to have an effect
- to treat differently
- split the difference
- to settle a dispute by a compromise
- to divide a remainder equally
- with a differencewith some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad
verb
- rare.to distinguish
- heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family
Word History and Origins
Origin of difference1
Idioms and Phrases
- split the difference,
- to compromise, especially to make equal concessions.
- to divide the remainder equally:
Let's take half of the cake and let the three of them split the difference.
More idioms and phrases containing difference
see make a difference ; split the difference . Also see under different .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Il n'existe que cette différence de rang entre les sorciers et les sorcières.
II y a, au reste, entre la capitale et le nord de ce royaume, une différence marquée sous ces deux rapports.
Cette différence existe également pour les femmes; elles sont beaucoup plus blanches que celles du sud.
Il y a une autre différence entre les deux groupes de mémoires en question.
Les gens du commun ne trouvent pas de différence entre les hommes.'
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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