noun
1. a discrimination between things as different and distinct (Freq. 5)
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it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation
• Syn: ↑distinction
• Derivationally related forms: ↑distinguish (for: ↑distinction), ↑differentiate
• Hypernyms: ↑discrimination, ↑secernment
• Hyponyms:
2. the mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function (Freq. 1)
• Derivationally related forms: ↑differentiate
• Hypernyms: ↑mathematical process, ↑mathematical operation, ↑operation
3. (biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function
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cell differentiation in the developing embryo
• Syn: ↑specialization, ↑specialisation
• Derivationally related forms: ↑differentiate, ↑specialise (for: ↑specialisation), ↑specialize (for: ↑specialization)
• Topics: ↑biology, ↑biological science
• Hypernyms: ↑adaptation, ↑adaption, ↑adjustment
Useful english dictionary. 2012.