distinguish
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dis·tin·guish
(dĭ-stĭng′gwĭsh)v. dis·tin·guished, dis·tin·guish·ing, dis·tin·guish·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To perceive as being different or distinct: Can you distinguish a pattern in this behavior?
b. To perceive distinctly; discern: The lookout distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon.
2.
a. To demonstrate or describe as being different or distinct: a scientist who distinguished four species of the plant.
b. To be an identifying characteristic of; make noticeable or different: These spices distinguish this style of Asian cooking.
3. To cause (oneself) to be respected or eminent: They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers.
v.intr.
To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate: Can the child distinguish between right and wrong?
[Alteration of obsolete distingue, from Middle English distinguen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere, to separate; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]
dis·tin′guish·a·ble adj.
dis·tin′guish·a·bly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
distinguish
(dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ)vb (mainly tr)
1. (when: intr, foll by between or among) to make, show, or recognize a difference or differences (between or among); differentiate (between)
2. to be a distinctive feature of; characterize
3. to make out; perceive
4. to mark for a special honour or title
5. to make (oneself) noteworthy: he distinguished himself by his cowardice.
6. to classify; categorize: we distinguished three species.
[C16: from Latin distinguere to separate, discriminate]
disˈtinguishable adj
disˈtinguishably adv
disˈtinguisher n
disˈtinguishing adj
disˈtinguishingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dis•tin•guish
(dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ)v.t.
1. to mark off as different (often fol. by from or by): His height distinguishes him from the other boys.
2. to recognize as distinct or different; recognize the individual features or characteristics of.
3. to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize.
4. to set apart as different; characterize: Her Italian accent distinguishes her.
5. to make prominent or eminent: to distinguish oneself in the arts.
6. to divide into classes; classify.
7. Archaic. to single out for special attention or honor.
v.i. 8. to indicate or show a difference (usu. fol. by between).
9. to recognize or note differences; discriminate.
[1555–65; « Latin distinguere; see distinct]
dis•tin′guish•a•ble, adj.
dis•tin`guish•a•bil′i•ty, n.
dis•tin′guish•a•bly, adv.
syn: distinguish, differentiate, discriminate mean to note the difference between two or more similar things. To distinguish is to recognize differences based on characteristic features or qualities: to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser. To differentiate is to find and point out the exact differences in detail: The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from the other. To discriminate is to note fine or subtle distinctions and to judge their significance: to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
distinguish
Past participle: distinguished
Gerund: distinguishing
| Imperative |
|---|
| distinguish |
| distinguish |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | distinguish - mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple" know - be able to distinguish, recognize as being different; "The child knows right from wrong" identify, place - recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something; "She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster" discriminate, know apart - recognize or perceive the difference label - distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions label - distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom individualise, individualize - make or mark or treat as individual; "The sounds were individualized by sharpness and tone" contrast - put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student" severalise, severalize - distinguish or separate contradistinguish - distinguish by contrasting qualities decouple, dissociate - regard as unconnected; "you must dissociate these two events!"; "decouple our foreign policy from ideology" demarcate - separate clearly, as if by boundaries stratify - divide society into social classes or castes; "Income distribution often stratifies a society" |
| 2. | distinguish - detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph" resolve - make clearly visible; "can this image be resolved?" discriminate - distinguish; "I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish" | |
| 3. | distinguish - be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers" mark - designate as if by a mark; "This sign marks the border" characterize, characterise, qualify - describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of; "You can characterize his behavior as that of an egotist"; "This poem can be characterized as a lament for a dead lover" characterise, characterize - be characteristic of; "What characterizes a Venetian painting?" | |
| 4. | distinguish - make conspicuous or noteworthy mark - designate as if by a mark; "This sign marks the border" singularise, singularize - distinguish as singular | |
| 5. | distinguish - identify as in botany or biology, for example |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
distinguish
verb
1. differentiate, determine, separate, discriminate, decide, judge, discern, ascertain, tell the difference, make a distinction, tell apart, tell between Could he distinguish right from wrong?
2. characterize, mark, separate, single out, individualize, set apart, make different, make distinctive one of the things that distinguishes artists from other people
distinguish yourself be successful, become famous, excel yourself, become immortalized, glorify yourself, ennoble yourself They distinguished themselves at the Battle of Assaye.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
distinguish
verb1. To recognize as being different:
2. To perceive and fix the identity of, especially with difficulty:
3. To perceive with a special effort of the senses or the mind:
4. To make noticeable or different:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَمَيَّز، يُمَيِّز نَفْسَهيُمَيِّزيُـمَيِّزُيُمَيِّز، يَعْرِفيُمَيِّز، يُفَرِّق
rozlišitvyniknoutvyznačovat seodlišovatrozeznat
skelneudmærke sigadskillekende forskel på
erottaa toisistaan
razlikovati
greina á milligreina, sjáskara fram úr
区別する
구별하다
garsusįžiūrimaspasižymėjęspasižymėti
atšķirtizceltizceltiesizšķirtsadzirdēt
odlišovaťvyznačovať sa
razlikovati
särskilja
จำแนกความแตกต่าง
phân biệt
distinguish
[dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ]A. VT
1. (= differentiate) → distinguir
they are so alike, it's hard to distinguish them → son tan parecidos que es difícil distinguirlos
he is unable to distinguish brown from green or brown and green → no es capaz de distinguir el marrón del verde or el marrón y el verde
they are so alike, it's hard to distinguish them → son tan parecidos que es difícil distinguirlos
he is unable to distinguish brown from green or brown and green → no es capaz de distinguir el marrón del verde or el marrón y el verde
2. (= make different) → distinguir (from de) it is his professionalism that distinguishes him from his rivals → su profesionalismo es lo que le distingue de sus rivales
to distinguish o.s → destacarse (as como) he distinguished himself during his career in the army → se destacó durante su carrera en el ejército
you've really distinguished yourself! (iro) → ¡te has lucido! (iro)
to distinguish o.s → destacarse (as como) he distinguished himself during his career in the army → se destacó durante su carrera en el ejército
you've really distinguished yourself! (iro) → ¡te has lucido! (iro)
3. (= characterize) → caracterizar
her work is distinguished by its excellent presentation → su trabajo se caracteriza por una excelente presentación
her work is distinguished by its excellent presentation → su trabajo se caracteriza por una excelente presentación
4. (= discern) [+ landmark] → distinguir, vislumbrar; [+ voice] → distinguir; [+ change] → distinguir, reconocer
B. VI → distinguir (between entre) I can't distinguish between the two of them → no puedo distinguir entre los dos
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
distinguish
[dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ] vt
(= make out) → distinguer
(= differentiate) to distinguish one thing from another → distinguer une chose d'une autre
to distinguish between one thing and another → faire la différence entre une chose et une autre
to distinguish between one thing and another → faire la différence entre une chose et une autre
vi
to distinguish between [+ concepts] → distinguer entre, faire une distinction entre
to distinguish o.s. → se distinguer
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
distinguish
vt
(= make different) → unterscheiden; only the length of their hair distinguishes the twins → die Zwillinge unterscheiden sich nur durch ihre Haarlänge
(= tell apart) → unterscheiden, auseinanderhalten; he can’t distinguish green from or and red → er kann Rot nicht von Grün unterscheiden, er kann Rot und Grün nicht auseinanderhalten
vi to distinguish between → unterscheiden zwischen (+dat), → einen Unterschied machen zwischen (+dat)
vr → sich auszeichnen, sich hervortun
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
distinguish
[dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ]1. vt → distinguere, discernere
he could just distinguish the form of a man → riusciva a malapena a distinguere la sagoma di un uomo
he can't distinguish red from green → non distingue il rosso dal verde
to distinguish o.s. (as) → distinguersi (come)
he could just distinguish the form of a man → riusciva a malapena a distinguere la sagoma di un uomo
he can't distinguish red from green → non distingue il rosso dal verde
to distinguish o.s. (as) → distinguersi (come)
2. vi to distinguish (between) → distinguere (tra)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
distinguish
(diˈstiŋgwiʃ) verb1. (often with from) to mark as different. What distinguishes this café from all the others?
2. to identify or make out. He could just distinguish the figure of a man running away.
3. (sometimes with between) to recognize a difference. I can't distinguish (between) the two types – they both look the same to me.
4. to make (oneself) noticed through one's achievements. He distinguished himself at school by winning a prize in every subject.
diˈstinguishable adjectivediˈstinguished adjective
famous or outstanding. a distinguished scientist.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
distinguish
→ يُـمَيِّزُ rozlišit skelne unterscheiden ξεχωρίζω distinguir erottaa toisistaan distinguer razlikovati distinguere 区別する 구별하다 onderscheiden skjelne odróżnić distinguir отличать särskilja จำแนกความแตกต่าง ayırt etmek phân biệt 辨别Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
distinguish
v. distinguir; diferenciar, clasificar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
distinguish
vt distinguirEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.