Quantcast
 
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

split the difference

 - 4 dictionary results
Split The Difference
Low prices on new & used music. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/music

dif⋅fer⋅ence

  [dif-er-uhns, dif-ruhns] noun, verb, -enced, -enc⋅ing.
–noun
1. the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity: There is a great difference between the two.
2. an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity: What accounts for the differences in their behavior?
3. a significant change in or effect on a situation: His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.
4. a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc.: The difference in the two products is quality.
5. the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.
6. the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.
7. a disagreement in opinion.
8. a dispute or quarrel.
9. Also called finite distance. Mathematics.
a. the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
b. relative complement.
c. (of a function f) an expression of the form f(x + h) − f(x).
10. a differentia.
–verb (used with object)
11. to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.
12. to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.
—Idiom
13. split the difference,
a. to compromise, esp. to make equal concessions.
b. to divide the remainder equally: Let's take half of the cake and let the three of them split the difference.
Use split the difference in a Sentence
Origin:
1300–50; ME (< AF) < L differentia, equiv. to different- carrying different ways (see different ) + -ia -ia; see -ence

Synonyms:
1. inconsistency, variation, diversity, imbalance, inequality, divergence, contrast, contrariety. Difference, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity imply perceivable unlikeness, variation, or diversity. Difference refers to a lack of identity or a degree of unlikeness: a difference of opinion; a difference of six inches. Discrepancy usually refers to an inconsistency between things that should agree, balance, or harmonize: a discrepancy between the statements of two witnesses. Disparity implies inequality, often where a greater equality might reasonably be expected: a great disparity between the ages of husband and wife. Dissimilarity indicates an essential lack of resemblance between things in some respect comparable: a dissimilarity between social customs in Asia and America. 6. See distinction.

Antonyms:
1. similarity, agreement.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To split the difference
Split The Difference
Low prices on new & used music. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/music
Word Origin & History

difference 
1340, from O.Fr. difference, from L. differentia, from differentem (nom. differens), prp. of differre "to set apart" (see differ). Sense of "a quarrel" first attested 1387. Colloquial phrase what's the diff? first recorded 1896. Different is from c.1384; differential is from 1647; differentiate first attested 1816, 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

difference dif·fer·ence (dĭf'ər-əns, dĭf'rəns)
n.
The magnitude or degree by which one quantity differs from another of the same kind.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

split the difference

Compromise between two close figures, divide the remainder equally. For example, You're asking $5,000 for the car and I'm offering $4,000; let's split the difference and make it $4,500. [c. 1700]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see split the difference on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
ExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyThe Daily BeastUrbanspoonAsk AnswersBloglinesSendori