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Differentiate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Differentiate means to recognize or show the differences between two or more things. It can also mean to develop distinct characteristics, as in cells differentiating into specialized types.

differentiate

/ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃiˌeɪt/ /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃiˌeɪt/

Definition:

Recognize or identify differences between things; make distinct or specialized.

Synonyms:

distinguish, discriminate, separate, discern

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

confuse, equate

Common Collocations:

differentiate between, differentiate from, differentiate clearly, highly differentiated

Derivatives:

differentiation, differentiable, differentiating

Usage Tips:

Use "differentiate" to highlight distinctions or specialize functions in contexts like biology or marketing.

Common Phrases:

differentiate between right and wrong, differentiate oneself from others

Etymology:

From Latin "differentiatus," past participle of "differentiare," meaning to divide or distinguish.

Examples:

  • 1. The teacher helps students differentiate between adjectives and adverbs.
  • 2. Can you differentiate these two species by their markings?
  • 3. Good leaders differentiate facts from opinions before deciding.
  • 4. The software can differentiate user preferences automatically.

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