distinguish
/dis'tiɳgwiʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The botanist can distinguish between the two species of fern by their leaf patterns.
Definition
Verb (Transitive):
- To recognize or point out a difference; to differentiate: To perceive or show the difference between two or more things.
- To perceive clearly; to discern: To recognize or identify something by sight, sound, or other senses.
- To be a characteristic or identifying feature of: To make someone or something noticeably different or special.
- To make oneself worthy of notice; to excel: To perform in a way that brings recognition or honor.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To recognize or understand the difference between things: To make a distinction.
Usage Examples
Transitive Verb:
- It is important to distinguish facts from opinions. (To recognize the difference.)
- His keen eyes could distinguish a hawk from a falcon at a great distance. (To perceive clearly.)
- Her remarkable patience distinguishes her as an excellent teacher. (To be a characteristic feature.)
- He distinguished himself in the field of scientific research. (To make oneself worthy of notice.)
Intransitive Verb:
- A good critic must distinguish between good art and popular art. (To recognize the difference.)
Advanced Usage
"Distinguish oneself": To do something so well that one gains fame or recognition.
- She distinguished herself by winning the national championship.
"Distinguish A from B": To perceive or show the difference between A and B.
- This test helps distinguish benign tumors from malignant ones.
Variants and Related Words
Distinguishable (adjective): Able to be recognized as different; perceptible.
- The twins are barely distinguishable from each other.
Distinguished (adjective): Very successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect.
- A distinguished professor of history.
Distinguishing (adjective): Characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to identify it.
- A distinguishing mark.
Synonyms
- Differentiate: To recognize or ascertain what makes someone or something different.
- Discriminate: To recognize a distinction, often in a careful or nuanced way.
- Discern: To perceive or recognize something, especially something that is not obvious.
- Tell apart: To be able to see how people or things are different.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions
- Distinguish between: To recognize or show the difference between two or more things (used intransitively).
- The law distinguishes between murder and manslaughter.
Related Idioms
- To have distinguishing features: To possess characteristics that make identification or differentiation easy.
- The rare coin has several distinguishing features that confirm its authenticity.
The botanist can distinguish between the two species of fern by their leaf patterns.
Verb
- identify as in botany or biology, for example
- make conspicuous or noteworthy
- be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
- His modesty distinguishes him from his peers
- 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
- mark as different
- We distinguish several kinds of maple