different between scope vs distinction

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sk??p/
• IPA^(key): /?sko?p/
• Hyphenation: scope
• Rhymes: -??p

Etymology 1

From Italian scopo (“purpose”), from Latin scopus (“target”), from Ancient Greek ?????? (skopós), from ????????? (sképtomai), from Proto-Indo-European *spe?-. Etymologically related to skeptic and spectrum.

Noun

scope (countable and uncountable, plural scopes)

1. The breadth, depth or reach of a subject; a domain.
2. (weaponry) A device used in aiming a projectile, through which the person aiming looks at the intended target.

   Synonym: telescopic sight

   • 2014, Sgt. Jack Coughlin, Donald A. Davis, On Scope: A Sniper Novel, St. Martin's Press (?ISBN)

3. Opportunity; broad range; degree of freedom.
   • 2001, Mike Hughes, Andy Vass, Strategies for Closing the Learning Gap (page 19)

     It is also true that the vast majority of teachers are highly skilled and experienced professionals who are already doing an excellent job in the classroom, thus leaving relatively little scope for improvement.

   • 2014, Mary Kitt-Neel, Lie Down in Princess Position

     She had in fact put in a resume at another firm that gave their graphics team much more scope.

4. (programming) The region of program source code in which a given identifier is meaningful, or a given object can be accessed.
   • 2001, Mary Campione, Kathy Walrath, Alison Huml, The Java Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics, Addison-Wesley Professional (?ISBN), page 72

5. (logic) The shortest sub-wff of which a given instance of a logical connective is a part.
6. (linguistics) The region of an utterance to which some modifying element applies.

7. (slang) A periscope, telescope, microscope or oscilloscope.
8. (medicine, colloquial) Any medical procedure that ends in the suffix -scopy, such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• in-scope
• scopeless

Descendants

• ? Irish: scóp

Translations

Verb

scope (third-person singular simple present scopes, present participle scoping, simple past and past participle scoped)

1. (informal, transitive) To perform a cursory investigation of; scope out.
2. (medicine, colloquial) To perform any medical procedure that ends in the suffix -scopy, such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc.

   The surgeon will scope the football player's knee to repair damage to a ligament.

3. (programming) To limit (an object or variable) to a certain region of program source code.

   If we locally scope the user's login name, it won't be accessible from outside this function.

4. (informal) To examine under a microscope.

   The entomologist explained that he could not tell what species of springtail we were looking at without scoping it.

5. (birdwatching, informal) To observe a bird using a spotting scope.

Translations

Etymology 2

Latin scopa

Noun

scope (plural scopes)

1. (obsolete) A bundle, as of twigs.

References

Anagrams

• OPSEC, Pecos, copes, copse

Italian

Noun

scope f

1. plural of scopa

Anagrams

• cespo, pesco, pescò, speco

Latin

Noun

scope

1. vocative singular of scopus

English

Etymology

From Middle English distinccioun, from Old French distinction (attested 12th century), from the Latin accusative distinctionem, action noun of distinguo (“I distinguish”). Used in English from the late 14th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??st??k??n/

Noun

distinction (countable and uncountable, plural distinctions)

1. That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.
2. The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination.
3. Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.
   • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Steven Gerrard goal against Poland ensures England will go to World Cup (in The Guardian, 15 October 2013)[2]

     Leighton Baines, playing with distinction again, sent over a left-wing cross with pace and accuracy. Welbeck, prominently involved all night, could not reach it but Rooney was directly behind him, flashing his header past Szczesny.

Antonyms

• (that which distinguishes): confusion

Derived terms

• contradistinction
• distinction without a difference

Related terms

• distinct
• distinguish
• distinguished
• distinguishable
• distinguishness

Translations

French

Etymology

From Old French distinction (attested in the 12th century), from borrowed from the Latin accusative distinctionem, the action noun of distinguere (“distinguish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dis.t??k.sj??/
• Rhymes: -??
• Homophone: distinctions

Noun

distinction f (plural distinctions)

1. distinction (difference, honour)

Related terms

• distinct
• distinguer

Further reading

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