Nearby Words

differentiate

[dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt] Example Sentences Origin

dif·fer·en·ti·ate

[dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt] verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
2.
to change; alter.
3.
to perceive the difference in or between.
4.
to make different by modification, as a biological species.
5.
Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.
verb (used without object)
6.
to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
7.
to make a distinction.
8.
Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

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Differentiate is always a great word to know.
So is divisible. Does it mean:
the smallest number that is a common multiple of a given set of numbers
capable of being evenly divided, without remainder

Origin:
1810–20; < Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate1

in·ter·dif·fer·en·ti·ate, verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
re·dif·fer·en·ti·ate, verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
self-dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing, adjective
un·dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, adjective


1. set off. See distinguish. 3. separate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To differentiate
Example Sentences
  • We see how people compartmentalize themselves and differentiate themselves from animals to express power, control and superiority.
  • He could differentiate colors and shapes and knew more than 100 words.
  • One of the challenges was to differentiate them all, give them all things to do and turn them into clear-cut characters.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
differentiate (ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˌeɪt)
 
vb (when intr, often foll by between)
1.  (tr) to serve to distinguish between
2.  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
 
differ'entiator
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

differentiate
1816, formed from different on model of Fr. différencier. Originally a mathematical term, trans. and non-technical sense of "discriminate between" is from 1876. Earlier, difference had been used as a verb in this sense. Related: Differentiated; differentiating; differentiation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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