'Distinguish' definitions:
Definition of 'distinguish'
From: WordNet
verb
Mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple" [syn: distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart]
verb
Detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph" [syn: spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart]
verb
Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers" [syn: distinguish, mark, differentiate]
verb
verb
Definition of 'Distinguish'
From: GCIDE
- Distinguish \Dis*tin"guish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]
- 1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic. [1913 Webster]
- Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. --Nares. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low. [1913 Webster]
- Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum. [1913 Webster]
- We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. --Watts. [1913 Webster]
- Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. [1913 Webster]
- Who distinguisheth thee? --1 Cor. iv.
- 7. (Douay version). [1913 Webster]
- 5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." --Johnson.
- Syn: To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Distinguish'
From: GCIDE
- Distinguish \Dis*tin"guish\, v. i.
- 1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'distinguish'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adorn,
- aggrandize,
- analyze,
- anatomize,
- atomize,
- be characteristic,
- behold,
- bestow honor upon,
- call attention to,
- catch sight of,
- categorize,
- change,
- characterize,
- chop logic,
- clap eyes on,
- classify,
- confer distinction on,
- contradistinguish,
- decide,
- define,
- demarcate,
- demark,
- denote,
- describe,
- descry,
- designate,
- desynonymize,
- detach,
- detect,
- determinate,
- determine,
- diagnose,
- difference,
- differentiate,
- dignify,
- discern,
- discover,
- discriminate,
- disengage,
- disequalize,
- disjoin,
- diversify,
- divide,
- draw the line,
- earmark,
- ennoble,
- erect,
- espy,
- extricate,
- feel,
- finger,
- glimpse,
- glorify,
- grace,
- grade,
- group,
- have,
- have in sight,
- hear,
- honor,
- identify,
- indicate,
- individualize,
- individuate,
- judge,
- ken,
- keynote,
- know,
- know again,
- lay eyes on,
- look on,
- look upon,
- magnify,
- make a distinction,
- make out,
- mark,
- mark off,
- mark out,
- mark the interface,
- modify,
- nail,
- note,
- notice,
- observe,
- part,
- particularize,
- peg,
- perceive,
- personalize,
- pick out,
- pick up,
- pinpoint,
- place,
- qualify,
- realize,
- recall knowledge of,
- recognize,
- refine a distinction,
- reidentify,
- remark,
- screen,
- screen out,
- see,
- segregate,
- select,
- sense,
- separate,
- set a limit,
- set apart,
- set off,
- set the pace,
- set the tone,
- sever,
- severalize,
- sieve,
- sieve out,
- sift,
- sift out,
- sight,
- signalize,
- single out,
- smell,
- sort,
- sort out,
- sound the keynote,
- specialize,
- split hairs,
- spot,
- spy,
- subdivide,
- sublime,
- subtilize,
- take in,
- taste,
- tell,
- tell apart,
- twig,
- uprear,
- vary,
- view,
- winnow,
- witness
Words containing 'Distinguish'
- Distinguishable,
- Distinguishableness,
- Distinguishably,
- Distinguished,
- Distinguishedly,
- Distinguisher,
- Distinguishing,
- Distinguishingly,
- Distinguishment,
- Distinguishing pennant,
- distinguishing characteristic,
- distinguished conduct medal,
- distinguished flying cross,
- distinguished service cross,
- distinguished service medal,
- distinguished service order