Definitions for contrast
kənˈtræst, ˈkɒn træst; ˈkɒn træstcon·trast

Princeton's WordNet(4.80 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. contrast, direct contrast(noun)

   the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

   "in contrast to", "by contrast"

2. contrast(noun)

   the act of distinguishing by comparing differences

3. line, dividing line, demarcation, contrast(noun)

   a conceptual separation or distinction

   "there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity"

4. contrast(noun)

   the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors

5. contrast(verb)

   the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)

6. contrast(verb)

   put in opposition to show or emphasize differences

   "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"

7. contrast, counterpoint(verb)

   to show differences when compared; be different

   "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. contrast(Noun)

   A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.

2. contrast(Noun)

   The degree of this difference.

   The red and the orange don't have much contrast between them uE000151142uE001 I can hardly tell them apart.

3. contrast(Noun)

   A difference between two objects, people or concepts.

   Israel is a country of many contrasts.

4. contrast(Noun)

   A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.

5. contrast(Noun)

   Antithesis.

6. contrast(Verb)

   To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.

7. contrast(Verb)

   To form a contrast.

   Foreground and background strongly contrast.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contrast(verb)

   to stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

2. Contrast(verb)

   to set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

3. Contrast(verb)

   to give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

4. Contrast(noun)

   the act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

5. Contrast(noun)

   opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

6. Contrast(noun)

   the opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities

   Etymology: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist, withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Contrast

   Contrast is the difference in luminance and/or color that makes an object distinguishable. In visual perception of the real world, contrast is determined by the difference in the color and brightness of the object and other objects within the same field of view. Because the human visual system is more sensitive to contrast than absolute luminance, we can perceive the world similarly regardless of the huge changes in illumination over the day or from place to place. The maximum contrast of an image is the contrast ratio or dynamic range. Contrast is also the difference between the color or shading of the printed material on a document and the background on which it is printed, for example in optical character recognition.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Contrast

   kon-trast′, v.i. to stand in opposition to.—v.t. to set in opposition, in order to show superiority or give effect.—n. Con′trast, opposition or unlikeness in things compared: exhibition of differences.—adj. Contrast′ive. [Fr. contraster—L. contra, opposite to, stāre, to stand.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contrast' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1622

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contrast' in Nouns Frequency: #719

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contrast' in Verbs Frequency: #874

How to pronounce contrast?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say contrast in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrast in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrast in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of contrast in a Sentence

1. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

   U.S. policies in the region are 180 degrees in contrast to Iran's policies, whether this text (nuclear deal) is approved or disapproved, we won't give up supporting our friends in the region. The oppressed Palestinian nation, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, the honest mujahedeen of resistance in Lebanon and Palestine will enjoy our constant support.

2. Hillary Clinton:

   We have differences and it is that time in the campaign when he's making contrast and I am as well.

3. Doug Stafford:

   The idea is not to go after Trump but rather to show the contrast between the two, a lifelong Democrat who is for bailouts, corporate welfare and buying influence vs. a reformer who wants to defeat the Washington machine, not buy it.

4. Ken Mehlman:

   If you look at attitudes today and where they are headed, it’s clear to me that supporting equal rights, including the rights to civil marriage, is a net positive for winning elections, as well as the right thing to do,” Ken Mehlman said in an interview. “By contrast, opposing equal rights is a net negative that gets problematic to more voters each year.”

5. New Zealand government:

   (The bill) enables all retailers to display products in-store, in contrast to requirements that require tobacco products to be out of the public's sight.

Images & Illustrations of contrast

Popularity rank by frequency of use