different between exact vs distinct

English

Etymology

From Old French, from Medieval Latin exactare, from Latin exactus, perfect passive participle of exig? (“demand, claim as due" or "measure by a standard, weigh, test”), from ex (“out”) + ag? (“drive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???zækt/
• Rhymes: -ækt

Adjective

exact (comparative exacter or more exact, superlative exactest or most exact)

1. Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.

2. Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
   • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]

3. Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
4. (algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

Synonyms

• (precisely agreeing): perfect, true, correct, precise
• (precisely or definitely conceived or stated): strict
• spot on

Antonyms

• (precisely agreeing): inexact, imprecise, approximate
• (precisely or definitely conceived or stated): loose

Derived terms

• exactly
• exactness
• exact sequence

Translations

Verb

exact (third-person singular simple present exacts, present participle exacting, simple past and past participle exacted)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To demand and enforce the payment or performance of, sometimes in a forcible or imperious way.

   to exact tribute, fees, or obedience from someone

   • He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

   • 2018, Edo Konrad, "Living in the constant shadow of settler violence", +972 Magazine:

   • 2020 September 19, statement of Clarence Thomas on the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg[1]:

     She was a superb judge who gave her best and exacted the best from each of us, whether in agreement or disagreement.

   • 2020, Kristine Henriksen Garroway, John W. Martens, Children and Methods (page 139)

     […] a generic, strikingly universal, deity, “ha-elohim,” who tests, who exacts and extracts, and who is the object of fear […]

2. (transitive) To make desirable or necessary.
   • 1632, Philip Massinger, The Maid of Honour

     My designs exact me in another place.

3. (transitive) To inflict; to forcibly obtain or produce.

   to exact revenge on someone

Usage notes

• Often used with the preposition from or on.

Derived terms

• exactable
• exacter
• exacting
• exactor

Translations

Adverb

exact (comparative more exact, superlative most exact)

1. exactly

Synonyms

• (error-free manner): accurately, just, precisely; see also Thesaurus:exactly

Further reading

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

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French exact, from Middle French exact, from Latin ex?ctus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?s?kt/
• Hyphenation: exact
• Rhymes: -?kt

Adjective

exact (comparative exacter, superlative exactst)

1. exact, precise

Inflection

Derived terms

• exactheid

Descendants

• Afrikaans: eksak

French

Etymology

From Latin ex?ctus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.zakt/, (old-fashioned) /??.za/

Adjective

exact (feminine singular exacte, masculine plural exacts, feminine plural exactes)

1. exact; precise

Derived terms

• exactement
• science exacte

Further reading

• “exact” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French exact.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e??zakt/

Adjective

exact m or n (feminine singular exact?, masculine plural exac?i, feminine and neuter plural exacte)

1. exact, precise

Declension

Adverb

exact

1. exactly, precisely

See also

• precis

English

Etymology

From Middle English distincte, from Old French, from Latin distinctus, past participle of distinguere (“to distinguish”); see distinguish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s?t??kt/
• Rhymes: -??kt

Adjective

distinct (comparative more distinct, superlative most distinct)

1. Capable of being perceived very clearly.

2. Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").

3. Noticeably different from others; distinctive.

4. Separate in place; not conjunct or united; with from.
5. (obsolete) Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified.
6. (obsolete) Marked; variegated.

Synonyms

• (capable of being perceived very clearly): clear, vivid; see also Thesaurus:distinct
• (different from one another): different, separate, several (obsolete)
• (noticeably different): characteristic, distinctive, prominent
• (separate in place): discrete, individual, noncontinuous, separate
• (distinguished): specified
• (marked): patterned; see also Thesaurus:marked

Antonyms

• (capable of being perceived very clearly): confusing, indistinct; see also Thesaurus:indistinct
• (different from one another): same, indistinguishable

Derived terms

• distinctly
• distinctness

Related terms

• distinction
• distinctive
• distinguish
• distinguished
• distinguishable
• distinguishness
• extinct

Translations

Further reading

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

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin distinctus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dis.t??/, /dis.t??kt/
• Homophone: distincts

Adjective

distinct (feminine singular distincte, masculine plural distincts, feminine plural distinctes)

1. distinct
2. discrete

Related terms

• distinguer

Further reading

• “distinct” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French distinct, Latin distinctus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dis?tinkt/

Adjective

distinct m or n (feminine singular distinct?, masculine plural distinc?i, feminine and neuter plural distincte)

1. distinct

Declension

Related terms

• distinctive
• distinc?ie
• distinge

Further reading

• distinct in DEX online - Dic?ionare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)