differentiate (v.)

  1. mark as different; We distinguish several kinds of maple

    [ Syn: distinguish , separate , secern , secernate , severalize , severalise , tell , tell apart ]

  2. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; His modesty distinguishes him from his peers

    [ Syn: distinguish , mark ]

  3. calculate a derivative; take the derivative

  4. become different during development; cells differentiate'

  5. evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment

    [ Syn: speciate , specialize , specialise ]

  6. become distinct and acquire a different character

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
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