Definitions for distinguish
dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃdis·tin·guish

Princeton's WordNet(1.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart(verb)

   mark as different

   "We distinguish several kinds of maple"

2. spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, 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"

3. distinguish, mark, differentiate(verb)

   be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense

   "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers"

4. signalize, signalise, distinguish(verb)

   make conspicuous or noteworthy

5. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, name(verb)

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(1.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distinguish(Verb)

   To see someone or something as different from others.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

2. distinguish(Verb)

   To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

3. distinguish(Verb)

   To make one's self noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distinguish(verb)

   not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic

2. Distinguish(verb)

   to separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low

3. Distinguish(verb)

   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

4. Distinguish(verb)

   to constitute a difference; to make to differ

5. Distinguish(verb)

   to separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for

6. Distinguish(verb)

   to make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle

7. Distinguish(verb)

   to become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distinguish

   dis-ting′gwish, v.t. to mark off, set apart (often with from): to recognise by characteristic qualities: to discern critically: to separate by a mark of honour: to make eminent or known.—v.i. to make or show distinctions or differences, to recognise the difference (with from, between).—adj. Disting′uishable, that may be capable of being distinguished.—adv. Disting′uishably.—p.adj. Disting′uished, illustrious.—n. Disting′uisher.—p.adj. Disting′uishing, peculiar.—n. Disting′uishment (Shak.), distinction. [Through Fr. from L. distinguĕre, distinctum—dis, asunder, stinguĕre, to prick, conn. with Gr. stizein, to mark. See Sting.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distinguish' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4481

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distinguish' in Verbs Frequency: #485

How to pronounce distinguish?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say distinguish in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of distinguish in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of distinguish in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of distinguish in a Sentence

1. Jean Asselborn:

   We have to make sure that consumers can distinguish products that come from territories occupied by Israel, we are just applying international rules.

2. David Buckley:

   First, the very competitive GOP primary has encouraged anti-Islamic rhetoric from candidates looking to distinguish themselves, second, in 2007, George W. Bush was still the national face of the Republican Party, and he was (to his credit) generally careful to avoid anti-Islamic rhetoric in his own public comments, especially in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.

3. Simon Wessely:

   The (first) issue is, can any biomarker distinguish CFS patients from those with other fatiguing illnesses? And second, is it measuring the cause, and not the consequence, of illness? this study does not provide any evidence that either has finally been achieved.

4. Julia Reda:

   Algorithms can not distinguish between actual copyright infringements and the perfectly legal re-use of content for purposes such as parody.

5. Andrea Dworkin:

   Seduction is often difficult to distinguish from rape. In seduction, the rapist often bothers to buy a bottle of wine.

Images & Illustrations of distinguish

Popularity rank by frequency of use