» distinguish
Verb (5 meanings)
1. mark as different.
to distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart
Example:
- “We distinguish several kinds of maple”
to distinguish is a way to:
ways to distinguish:
- to contradistinguish (verb) - distinguish by contrasting qualities
- to contrast (verb) - put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
- to decouple, dissociate (verb) - regard as unconnected
- to demarcate (verb) - separate clearly, as if by boundaries
- to discriminate, know apart (verb) - recognize or perceive the difference
- to discriminate, separate, single out (verb) - treat differently on the basis of sex or race
- to individualize, individualise (verb) - make or mark or treat as individual
- to know (verb) - be able to distinguish, recognize as being different
- to label (verb) - distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions
- to label (verb) - distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom
- to severalize, severalise (verb) - distinguish or separate
- to sex (verb) - tell the sex (of young chickens)
- to stratify (verb) - divide society into social classes or castes
to distinguish is derivationally related to:
- deviation, divergence, departure, difference (noun) - a variation that deviates from the standard or norm
- difference (noun) - the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
- differentiation, distinction (noun) - a discrimination between things as different and distinct
- differentiator, discriminator (noun) - a person who (or that which) differentiates
to distinguish entails:
- to compare (verb) - examine and note the similarities or differences of
2. detect with the senses.
to spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart
Examples:
- “The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards”,
- “I can't make out the faces in this photograph”
ways to distinguish:
- to discriminate (verb) - distinguish
- to resolve (verb) - make clearly visible
to distinguish is derivationally related to:
- discernible, discernable (adjective) - perceptible by the senses or intellect
- discernible, evident, observable (adjective) - capable of being seen or noticed
- discernible (adjective) - capable of being perceived clearly
- discernment, perceptiveness (noun) - perception of that which is obscure
to distinguish entails:
- to perceive, comprehend (verb) - to become aware of through the senses
3. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense.
to distinguish, mark, differentiate
Example:
- “His modesty distinguishes him from his peers”
to distinguish is a way to:
- to qualify, characterize, characterise (verb) - describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
ways to distinguish:
- to characterize, characterise (verb) - be characteristic of
to distinguish is derivationally related to:
- deviation, divergence, departure, difference (noun) - a variation that deviates from the standard or norm
- difference (noun) - the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
- differentiation, distinction (noun) - a discrimination between things as different and distinct
- marker, marking, mark (noun) - a distinguishing symbol
Verb group:
- to mark (verb) - designate as if by a mark
4. make conspicuous or noteworthy.
to distinguish is a way to:
- to mark (verb) - designate as if by a mark
ways to distinguish:
- to singularize, singularise (verb) - distinguish as singular
to distinguish is derivationally related to:
- signal, signaling, sign (noun) - any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
- signalization, signalisation (noun) - a conspicuous indication
5. identify as in botany or biology, for example.
to identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, name
to distinguish is derivationally related to:
- designation, identification (noun) - the act of designating or identifying something
- identifiable (adjective) - capable of being identified
- identity (noun) - the individual characteristics by which a thing or person is recognized or known
- name (noun) - a language unit by which a person or thing is known
- naming (noun) - the verbal act of naming