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

Princeton's WordNet(4.75 / 4 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Contrast(verb)

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

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

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

4. Contrast(noun)

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

5. Contrast(noun)

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

6. Contrast(noun)

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

Origin: [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(0.00 / 0 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

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. Amber Freda:

   Always think about interesting contrast.

2. Helen Le:

   It's the contrast of textures that makes this dish interesting.

3. Chad Sweet:

   This is an area where the American people deserve to see contrast.

4. The Law of Thumb:

   Somebody who thinks logically is a nice contrast to the real world

5. Bernie Sanders:

   People will have to contrast my consistency against the secretary’s.

Images & Illustrations of contrast

Popularity rank by frequency of use