differentiate

[ dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

1. to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
2. to change; alter.
3. to perceive the difference in or between.

   Synonyms: separate

4. to make different by modification, as a biological species.
5. Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.

verb (used without object)

, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

1. to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
2. to make a distinction.
3. Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

differentiate

/ ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. tr to serve to distinguish between
2. whenintr, often foll by between to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate
3. intr to become dissimilar or distinct
4. maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)
5. intr (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms

Derived Forms

• ˌdifferˈentiˌator, noun

Other Words From

• dif·fer·enti·ation noun
• inter·differ·enti·ate verb (used with object) interdifferentiated interdifferentiating
• redif·fer·enti·ate verb redifferentiated redifferentiating
• self-differ·enti·ating adjective
• undif·fer·enti·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of differentiate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre ), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate ¹

Synonym Study

See distinguish.

Example Sentences

Instead, differentiated cells undergo what is known as dedifferentiation after the removal of the growth zone.

From Science Daily

These new cells are then pushed to the surface, differentiating along the way and accumulating protein condensates.

From Science Daily

"Tiny differences in mole roughness, too small to see with the human eye but measurable with our proposed quantum system, could differentiate between those conditions," explains Huang.

From Science Daily

“In the attention economy … anything that gives you an advantage in terms of differentiating yourself,” Perren said.

From Los Angeles Times

“I noticed that my kids just didn’t differentiate. It was just such a light bulb moment for me. This is how it should be. More exposure to the full spectrum of humanity.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adapt
• alter
• diversify
• modify
• transform
• vary