distinguish

views updated May 29 2018

dis·tin·guish / disˈtinggwish/ • v. [tr.] recognize or treat (someone or something) as different: the child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy. ∎  [intr.] perceive or point out a difference: bees are unable to distinguish between red, black, and various grays. ∎  manage to discern (something barely perceptible): it was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes. ∎  be an identifying or characteristic mark or property of: what distinguishes sports from games? | [as adj.] (distinguishing) a yellow brick house with no distinguishing features. ∎  (distinguish oneself) make oneself prominent and worthy of respect through one's behavior or achievements: many distinguished themselves in the fight against Hitler.DERIVATIVES: dis·tin·guish·a·ble adj.

Distinguish

views updated May 14 2018

DISTINGUISH

To set apart as being separate or different; to point out an essential disparity.

To distinguish one case from another case means to show the dissimilarities between the two. It means to prove a case that is cited as applicable to the case currently in dispute is really inapplicable because the two cases are different.

distinguish

views updated May 14 2018

distinguish divide into classes; make, or mark as, different; perceive plainly; make prominent, XVI. irreg. f. F. distinguer or L. distinguere + -ISH 2; cf. extinguish.