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contrast
7 dictionary results for: contrast
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
con·trast       [v. kuhn-trast, kon-trast; n. kon-trast] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object)
1.to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc., of: Contrast the political rights of Romans and Greeks.
–verb (used without object)
2.to exhibit unlikeness on comparison with something else; form a contrast.
3.Linguistics. to differ in a way that can serve to distinguish meanings: The sounds (p) and (b) contrast in the words “pin” and “bin.”
–noun
4.the act of contrasting; the state of being contrasted.
5.a striking exhibition of unlikeness.
6.a person or thing that is strikingly unlike in comparison: The weather down here is a welcome contrast to what we're having back home.
7.opposition or juxtaposition of different forms, lines, or colors in a work of art to intensify each element's properties and produce a more dynamic expressiveness.
8.Photography. the relative difference between light and dark areas of a print or negative.
9.Television. the brightness ratio of the lightest to the darkest part of the television screen image.
10.Linguistics. a difference between linguistic elements, esp. sounds, that can serve to distinguish meanings.
[Origin: 1480–90; (v.) < MF contraster < It contrastare to contest < L contrā- contra-1 + stāre to stand; (n.) earlier contraste < F < It contrasto conflict, deriv. of contrastare]

—Related forms
con·trast·a·ble, adjective
con·trast·a·bly, adverb
con·trast·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, oppose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
con·trast       (kən-trāst', kŏn'trāst')  Pronunciation Key 
v.   con·trast·ed, con·trast·ing, con·trasts

v.   tr.
To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences: an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.

v.   intr.
  1. To show differences when compared: siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
  2. Linguistics To evince a difference that can distinguish meaning: Voiced and voiceless stops contrast in English but not in Cree.

n.   (kŏn'trāst')
    1. The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
    2. The state of being contrasted: red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
  2. A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared: the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
  3. One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another: My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
  4. The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
  5. The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
  6. Linguistics A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.


[French contraster, from Italian contrastare, from Medieval Latin contrāstāre : Latin contrā-, contra- + Latin stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

con·trast'a·ble adj., con·trast'ing·ly adv.
Usage Note: The noun contrast may be followed by between, with, or to: There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works. In contrast with (or less frequently, to) his early works, the later plays are dark and forbidding. When contrast is used as a transitive verb, both with and to may follow, though with is more common: Most scholars contrast the light comedies of his early career with (or to) the dark comedies that were written late in his life.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
contrast  (v.)
1695, from Fr. contraster, from It. contrastare "stand out against," from V.L. *contrastare "to withstand," from L. contra "against" + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). M.E. had contrest "to fight against, to withstand," which became extinct. Modern word re-introduced c.1700 as an art term.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
contrast

noun
1. the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; "in contrast to", "by contrast" 
2. the act of distinguishing by comparing differences 
3. a conceptual separation or distinction; "there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity" [syn: line] 
4. the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors 
5. the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness) 

verb
1. put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student" 
2. to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contrast

Con*trast"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Contrasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Contrasting.] [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.] To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities.

The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars. --Lyell.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contrast

Con*trast"\, v. t. 1. To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past.

2. (Fine Arts) To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object.

the figures of the groups must not be all on side . . . but must contrast each other by their several position. --Dryden.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Contrast

Con"trast\ (k[o^]n"tr[.a]st), n. [F. contraste: cf. It. contrasto.]

1. The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities.

place the prospect of the soul In sober contrast with reality. --Wordsworth.

2. Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison.

The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons. --Whewell.

3. (Fine Arts) The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities. --Fairholt.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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