difference (redirected from Make a Difference)

dif·fer·ence  (dfr-ns, dfrns)

n.

1. The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar.

2.

a. An instance of disparity or unlikeness.

b. A degree or amount by which things differ.

c. A specific point or element that distinguishes one thing from another.

3. A noticeable change or effect: Exercise has made a difference in her health.

4.

a. A disagreement or controversy.

b. A cause of a disagreement or controversy.

5. Discrimination in taste or choice; distinction.

6. Mathematics

a. The amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.

b. The amount that remains after one quantity is subtracted from another.

7. Archaic A distinct mark or peculiarity.

tr.v. dif·fer·enced, dif·fer·enc·ing, dif·fer·enc·es

To distinguish or differentiate.

Synonyms: difference, dissimilarity, unlikeness, divergence, variation, distinction, discrepancy
These nouns refer to a lack of correspondence or agreement. Difference is the most general: differences in color and size; a difference of opinion.
Dissimilarity is difference between things otherwise alike or comparable: a dissimilarity between the twins' personalities.
Unlikeness usually implies greater and more obvious difference: unlikeness among their teaching styles.
Divergence suggests an increasing difference: points of divergence between British and American English.
Variation occurs between things of the same class or species; often it refers to modification of something original, prescribed, or typical: variations in temperature; a variation in shape.
Distinction often means a difference in detail determinable only by close inspection: the distinction between "good" and "excellent."
A discrepancy is a difference between things that should correspond or match: a discrepancy between his words and his actions.

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difference [ˈdɪfərəns ˈdɪfrəns]

n

1. the state or quality of being unlike

2. a specific instance of being unlike

3. a distinguishing mark or feature

4. a significant change in a situation the difference in her is amazing

5. a disagreement or argument he had a difference with his wife

6. a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things

7. (Mathematics)

a.  the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc., from another

b.  the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder

8. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic another name for differentia

9. (Mathematics) Maths (of two sets)

a.  the set of members of the first that are not members of the second. Symbol A - B

b. 

symmetric difference the set of members of one but not both of the given sets. Often symbolized A + B

10. (History / Heraldry) Heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch

make a difference

a.  to have an effect

b.  to treat differently

split the difference

a.  to settle a dispute by a compromise

b.  to divide a remainder equally

with a difference with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad

vb (tr)

1. Rare to distinguish

2. (History / Heraldry) Heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	difference - the quality of being unlike or dissimilar; "there are many differences between jazz and rock" quality - an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"--Shakespeare otherness, separateness, distinctness - the quality of being not alike; being distinct or different from that otherwise experienced or known differential - a quality that differentiates between similar things differentia - distinguishing characteristics (especially in different species of a genus) distinction - a distinguishing difference; "he learned the distinction between gold and lead" discrepancy, disagreement, divergence, variance - a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions; "a growing divergence of opinion" dissimilarity, unsimilarity - the quality of being dissimilar variety, change - a difference that is usually pleasant; "he goes to France for variety"; "it is a refreshing change to meet a woman mechanic" inequality - lack of equality; "the growing inequality between rich and poor" sameness - the quality of being alike; "sameness of purpose kept them together"
	2.	difference - a variation that deviates from the standard or norm; "the deviation from the mean" deviation, divergence, departure variation, fluctuation - an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change variance, variant, discrepancy - an event that departs from expectations driftage - the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting flection, flexion, inflection - deviation from a straight or normal course
	3.	difference - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats" difference of opinion, dispute, conflict disagreement - the speech act of disagreeing or arguing or disputing collision - a conflict of opposed ideas or attitudes or goals; "a collision of interests" contestation, controversy, disceptation, arguing, argument, contention, disputation, tilt - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument" gap - a difference (especially an unfortunate difference) between two opinions or two views or two situations dustup, quarrel, run-in, wrangle, row, words - an angry dispute; "they had a quarrel"; "they had words"
	4.	difference - a significant change; "the difference in her is amazing"; "his support made a real difference" change - a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage"
	5.	difference - the number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend remainder balance - the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account number - a concept of quantity involving zero and units; "every number has a unique position in the sequence"

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difference

noun

1. dissimilarity, contrast, variation, change, variety, exception, distinction, diversity, alteration, discrepancy, disparity, deviation, differentiation, peculiarity, divergence, singularity, particularity, distinctness, unlikeness the vast difference in size
dissimilarity similarity, resemblance, affinity, relation, conformity, likeness, sameness, congruence, comparability, similitude

2. remainder, rest, balance, remains, excess, outstanding amount, remaining amount They pledge to refund the difference within 48 hours.

3. disagreement, conflict, argument, row, clash, dispute, set-to (informal), controversy, contention, quarrel, strife, wrangle, tiff, contretemps, discordance, contrariety They are leaning how to resolve their differences.
disagreement agreement, concordance, harmony

make a difference to something or someone change, transform, alter, modify, metamorphose Where you live can make such a difference to the way you feel.

Translations

difference [ˈdɪfrəns] N

1. (= dissimilarity) → diferencia f (between entre) I see no difference between them → no veo diferencia alguna entre ellos
a car with a difference → un coche diferente or especial
that makes all the difference → eso cambia totalmente la cosa
it makes no difference → da igual, da lo mismo
it makes no difference to me → me da igual or lo mismo
it will make no difference to us → nos dará igual or lo mismo, no nos afectará en lo más mínimo
what difference does it make? → ¿qué más da?
it makes a lot of difference → importa mucho
see also split C2

2. (between numbers, amounts) → diferencia f
I'll pay the difference → yo pagaré la diferencia

3. (= change) the difference in her is amazing! → ¡cuánto ha cambiado!

4. (euph) (= quarrel) → riña f
a difference of opinion → un desacuerdo
see also put aside, settle

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difference [ˈdɪfrəns] n

(= dissimilarity) → différence f
difference in sth [+ size, colour, age] → différence de qch
There's not much difference in age between us → Il n'y a pas une grande différence d'âge entre nous.
difference between → différence entre
to tell the difference between (= distinguish) → différencier
I can't tell the difference between them → Je suis incapable de les différencier.
to make a difference (= be important) → avoir de l'importance
It makes no difference → Ça n'a pas d'importance.
it makes no difference to me (= is of no importance) → cela m'est égal, cela m'est indifférent
to make a difference to sth (= affect) → avoir un effet sur qch
to make all the difference (= be a decisive factor) → faire toute la différence
with a difference (= very unusual) [holiday, job] → pas comme les autres

(= disagreement) → différend m, désaccord m
to settle one's differences, to resolve one's differences → résoudre la situation
a difference of opinion (= disagreement) → une divergence d'opinions

(between numbers) → différence f
to split the difference → couper la poire en deux

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difference

n

→ Unterschied m; (in age) → (Alters)unterschied m (→ in, between zwischen +dat); that makes a big difference to me → das ist für mich ein großer Unterschied; to make a difference to or in something → einen Unterschied bei etw machen; that makes a big or a lot of difference, that makes all the difference → das ändert die Sache völlig, das gibt der Sache (dat) → ein ganz anderes Gesicht; cooperation makes all the difference → Zusammenarbeit macht viel aus; a bottle of wine would make all the difference → es fehlt nur noch eine Flasche Wein dazu; it makes all the difference in the world → da liegt der entscheidende Unterschied; what difference does it make if …? → was macht es schon, wenn …?; what difference is that to you? → was macht dir das aus?; it makes no difference, it doesn’t make any difference → es ist egal; it makes no difference to me → das ist mir egal or einerlei; for all the difference it makes → obwohl es ja eigentlich egal ist; I can’t tell the difference → ich kann keinen Unterschied erkennen; a job with a difference (inf) → ein Job, der mal was anderes ist

(between numbers, amounts) → Differenz f; to pay the difference → die Differenz or den Rest(betrag) bezahlen; to split the difference → sich (dat) → die Differenz or den Rest(betrag) teilen

(= quarrel) → Differenz f, → Auseinandersetzung f; a difference of opinion → eine Meinungsverschiedenheit; to settle or resolve one’s differences → die Differenzen or Meinungsverschiedenheiten beilegen

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difference [ˈdɪfr/əns] n

a. difference (in/between) → differenza (di/tra)
that makes all the difference → questo cambia tutto
it makes no difference to me → per me è lo stesso
a car with a difference → una macchina diversa dalle altre
the difference in her is amazing → è incredibile com'è cambiata
I'll make up the difference later (of money) → ti do il resto dopo
common difference (Math) → ragione f

b. (quarrel) a difference of opinion → una divergenza di opinioni
they could not settle their differences → non sono riusciti a mettersi d'accordo

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difference

n difference [ˈdifrəns]

1 what makes one thing unlike another I can't see any difference between these two pictures; It doesn't make any difference to me whether you go or stay; There's not much difference between them. verskil, onderskeid إخْتِلاف разлика rozdíl forskel der Unterschied διαφορά diferencia erinevus فرق؛ تفاوت eroavaisuus différence שוֹנִי भिन्नता razlika különbség perbedaan munur differenza 違い 차이 skirtumas atšķirība beza verschil forskjell różnica diferença di­­fe­­renţă разница rozdiel razlika razlika skillnad ความแตกต่าง farklılık, fark 差異 різниця فرق sự khác nhau 差异

2 an act of differing, especially a disagreement We had a difference of opinion; Have they settled their differences? (= Have they stopped arguing?). meningsverskil, geskilpunt إخْتِلاف، عَدم إتِّفاق различие neshoda, rozpor meningsforskel die Meinungsverschiedenheit διαφωνία diferencia erimeelsus اختلاف erimielisyys désaccord חִילוּקֵי דְעוֹת असहमति neslaganje, razlikovanje nézeteltérés perselisihan disaccordo, controversia 相異 차별 nesutarimas, nuomonių nesutapimas nesaskaņa; strīds berlainan geschil, meningsverschil meningsforskjell nieporozumienie discussão dezacord; neînţelegere разногласие nezhoda spor razlika meningsskiljaktighet, tvist ความขัดแย้ง görüş ayrılığı, anlaşmazlık, uyuşmazlık 分歧 незгода, сварка نا موافق ہونے کی کیفیت sự bất đồng 分歧

3 the amount by which one quantity or number is greater than another If you buy it for me I'll give you $6 now and make up the difference later. verskil فَرْق разлика rozdíl forskel die Differenz διαφορά, υπόλοιπο diferencia vahe باقی مانده؛ بقیه ero différence הֶבדֵל अन्तर razlika brojeva különbözet kekurangan mismunur differenza 差 차액 skirtumas starpība kekurangan verschil differanse, forskjell różnica diferença diferenţă разница rozdiel razlika razlika mellanskillnad ส่วนต่าง aradaki fark 差額 різниця فرق و اختلاف کی مقدار یا درجہ sự chênh lệch 差额

adj different

(often withfrom) not the same These gloves are not a pair – they're different; My ideas are different from his. verskil van مُخْتَلِف различен rozdílný, odlišný forskellig verschieden διαφορετικός diferente erinev متفاوت؛ مختلف erilainen différent (de) שוֹנֶה अलग različit eltérő tidak sama mismunandi diverso 異なった 다른 skirtingas atšķirīgs, citāds berbeza verschillend forskjellig, annerledes różny, niepodobny diferente di­fe­rit (de) разный odlišný različen različit olik[], avvikande, annorlunda ต่างกัน farklı, ayrı 不同的 різний; несхожий مختلف khác 不同的

v diffeˈrentiate [-ˈrenʃieit]

1 to see or be able to tell a difference (between) I cannot even differentiate a blackbird and a starling. onderskei يُفَرِّق различавам odlišit, rozlišit se forskel; differentiere mellem unterscheiden zwischen διακρίνω (τη διαφορά) diferenciar, distinguir eristama تشخیص دادن؛ جدا کردن erottaa distinguer לְהַבדִיל विभेद जान लेना razlikovati megkülönböztet membedakan gera greinarmun á distinguere 識別する 구별하다 atskirti atšķirt membezakan onderscheiden skjelne mellom, holde atskilt/fra hverandre odróżniać distinguir a di­fe­renţia, a deosebi отличать rozlíšiť razlikovati razlikovati hålla isär, skilja mellan (på) บอกความแตกต่าง ayırt etmek, farkı görmek 區別 розрізняти امتیاز کرنا phân biệt 区别

2 (withbetween) to treat differently She does not differentiate between her two children although one is adopted. onderskeid maak, voortrek يُفَرِّق بَيْنَ، يُمَيِّز разграничавам dělat rozdíl, rozlišovat gøre forskel einen Unterschied machen κάνω διακρίσεις hacer diferencias (entre) vahet tegema فرق گذاشتن بین؛ تبعیض قائل شدن tehdä eroa faire la différence (entre) לְהַבדִיל भिन्न करना različito megkülönböztet memperlakukan lain gera greinarmun á fare differenza 差別する 차별하다 skirti izturēties dažādi; šķirot beza-bezakan verschillend behandelen behandle ulikt, gjøre forskjell på traktować inaczej fazer diferença a face (vreo) dife­renţă, a trata diferit делать различие robiť rozdiel razločevati praviti razliku göra åtskillnad mellan, behandla olika ทำให้แตกต่าง ayırım yapmak, farklı muamele etmek 區分 ставитися по-різному فرق کرنا phân biệt đối xử 区分

n diffeˌrentiˈation

onderskeiding, begunstiging تَفْريق، تَمْييز разграничаване rozlišování skelnen; differentiering die Unterscheidung διαφοροποίηση diferenciación vahetegemine تشخیص؛ تمایز eron tekeminen différenciation בִּידוּל, הַבחָנָה भेद-भाव razlikovanje megkülönböztetés diferensiasi sundurgreining, aðgreining differenziazione 区別 구별, 차별 atskyrimas, diferencijavimas diferencēšana; atšķiršana kelainan onderscheiding differensiering; forskjellsbehandling odróżnianie, różnicowanie diferenciação diferenţiere, deo­se­bire различие rozlišovanie razlikovanje diferencijacija differentiering การสร้างความแตกต่าง fark etme, ayırt etme 差別；分化；微分法 диференціація; диференціювання تفریق sự phân biệt 差别；分化；微分法

different is followed by from (not than ).

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difference → اختلاف rozdíl forskel Unterschied διαφορά diferencia ero différence razlika differenza 違い 차이점 verschil forskjell różnica diferença разница skillnad ความแตกต่าง farklılık sự khác nhau 差别