split difference
ər 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.
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.
00:10
Split difference
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
13.
split the difference,
a.
to compromise, especially 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.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin differentia, equivalent to different- carrying different ways (see different) + -ia -ia; see -ence
1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin differentia, equivalent 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.
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.
1. similarity, agreement.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To split difference
Collins
World English Dictionary
difference (ˈdɪfərəns, ˈdɪfrəns) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the state or quality of being unlike |
| 2. | a specific instance of being unlike |
| 3. | a distinguishing mark or feature |
| 4. | a significant change in a situation: the difference in her is amazing |
| 5. | a disagreement or argument: he had a difference with his wife |
| 6. | a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things |
| 7. | a. the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another |
| b. the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder | |
| 8. | logic another name for differentia |
| 9. | of two sets maths |
| a. A -- B the set of members of the first that are not members of the second | |
| b. symmetric difference Often symbolized: A + B the set of members of one but not both of the given sets | |
| 10. | heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch |
| 11. | make a difference |
| a. to have an effect | |
| b. to treat differently | |
| 12. | split the difference |
| a. to settle a dispute by a compromise | |
| b. to divide a remainder equally | |
| 13. | with a difference with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad |
| —vb | |
| 14. | rare to distinguish |
| 15. | heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
difference
mid-14c., 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 late 14c. Colloquial phrase what's the diff? first recorded 1896.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
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.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
Synonyms
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