dif|fer|en|ti|ate

dif|fer|en|ti|ate
dif|fer|en|ti|ate «DIHF uh REHN shee ayt», verb, -at|ed, -at|ing, noun.
–v.t.
1. to make different; cause to have differences: »

Consideration for others differentiates a thoughtful person from a bad-mannered one. It is the accumulated knowledge of centuries which differentiates modern Man from his ancestor in the dawn of civilization (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).

2. to find or tell the difference in or between; find or show to be different: »

Almost anyone can differentiate a cow from a horse. The botanist differentiated varieties of plants.

 SYNONYM(S): See syn. under distinguish. (Cf. ↑distinguish)
3. Biology. to make different in the process of growth or development; make unlike by modification.
4. Mathematics. to obtain the differential or differential coefficient of: »

to differentiate an equation.

–v.i.
1. to become different: »

This genus of plants differentiates into many species.

2. to tell the difference; find or show what is different: »

A doctor must differentiate between diseases to give the right treatment.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under distinguish. (Cf. ↑distinguish)
3. Biology. to become differentiated or specialized: »

The cells of an embryo differentiate into organs and parts as it grows.

–n.
1. Geology. any of a group of rocks derived from a parent mass and differentiated into constituents either more acidic or more basic than the original mass.
2. Mathematics. = differential coefficient. (Cf. ↑differential coefficient)

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • de|dif|fer|en|ti|ate — «dee DIHF uh REHN shee ayt», intransitive verb, at|ed, at|ing. Biology. to undergo dedifferentiation; lose special form or function: »When the tadpole metamorphoses into the frog, some of its tissues start to dedifferentiate (Haldane and Huxley) …   Useful english dictionary

  • dif·fer·en·ti·ate — …   Useful english dictionary

  • dif — ac·i·dif·er·ous; di·a·mon·dif·er·ous; dif·fa; dif·far·re·a·tion; dif·fer·en·cy; dif·fer·en·tia; dif·fer·en·tia·bil·i·ty; dif·fer·en·tia·ble; dif·fer·en·tial·ly; dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion; dif·fer·en·ti·a·tor; dif·fer·ent·ly; dif·fer·ent·ness;… …   English syllables

  • ate — ab·bre·vi·ate; ac·cel·er·ate; acra·ni·ate; ac·u·ate; acu·le·ate; ac·yl·ate; adul·ter·ate; af·fec·tion·ate; af·fil·i·ate; ag·ate; ag·glom·er·ate; al·kyl·ate; al·lit·er·ate; am·mo·ni·ate; ap·pro·pri·ate; ar·che·go·ni·ate; as·cid·i·ate; as·per·ate;… …   English syllables

  • differentiate — dif·fer·en·ti·ate …   English syllables

  • differentiate — dif·fer·en·ti·ate .dif ə ren chē .āt vb, at·ed; at·ing vt 1) to constitute a difference that distinguishes <the history of the injury also differentiates these two fractures (J. S. Keene )(et al)> 2) to cause differentiation of in the… …   Medical dictionary

  • differentiate — dif•fer•en•ti•ate [[t]ˌdɪf əˈrɛn ʃiˌeɪt[/t]] v. at•ed, at•ing 1) to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish 2) to perceive the difference in or between 3) to make different by modification, as a biological species 4) math.… …   From formal English to slang

  • differentiate — dif|fer|en|ti|ate [ ,dıfə renʃi,eıt ] verb * 1. ) intransitive or transitive to see or show a difference between things: differentiate between: Neil is color blind and cannot differentiate between red and green. Present your main arguments in… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Re. — rupee. Also, re. * * * re1 «ray», noun. the second tone of the musical diatonic scale. ╂[< Medieval Latin re < Latin re (sonāre) to resound. See etym. under gamut. (Cf. ↑gamut)] …   Useful english dictionary

  • R.E. — 1. real estate. 2. Reformed Episcopal. 3. Right Excellent. * * * re1 «ray», noun. the second tone of the musical diatonic scale. ╂[< Medieval Latin re < Latin re (sonāre) to resound. See etym. under gamut …   Useful english dictionary

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