different between differentiate vs tellapart

English

Etymology

From New Latin *differentiatus, past participle of differentiare, from Latin differentia (“difference”); see difference.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?f.????n.?i.e?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?d?.f????nt.?i.e?t/

Verb

differentiate (third-person singular simple present differentiates, present participle differentiating, simple past and past participle differentiated)

1. (transitive) To show, or be the distinction between two things.
   • 1871, John Earle, The Philology of the English Tongue

     The word "then" was differentiated into the two forms "then" and "than".
2. (intransitive) To perceive the difference between things; to discriminate.
3. (transitive, intransitive) To modify, or be modified.
4. (transitive, mathematics) To calculate the derivative of a function.
5. (transitive, mathematics) To calculate the differential of a function of multiple variables.
6. (intransitive, biology) To produce distinct organs or to achieve specific functions by a process of development called differentiation.

Synonyms

• (to show the distinction between things): differentialize; see also Thesaurus:differentiate
• (to perceive the difference between things): differentialize; see also Thesaurus:tell apart
• (to modify): change, transform; see also Thesaurus:alter

Antonyms

• (to show the distinction between things): equate
• (to perceive the difference between things): mix up, muddle up
• (to modify): leave alone, preserve

Derived terms

• differentiation

Related terms

• differ
• difference
• different
• differential

Translations

Further reading

• differentiate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• differentiate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Noun

differentiate (plural differentiates)

1. (geology) Something that has been differentiated or stratified.