# differentiate

Pronunciation: say "dif-uh-REN-shee-ayt" US /ˌdɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/, UK /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/, AUS /dɪf.əˈɹen.ʃi.æɪt/

## Verb

1. To recognize one thing as different or distinct from another.
   - Simple: To see that two or more things are not the same.
   - _Experts can differentiate genuine antiques from clever reproductions._
   - _The taster differentiated the blends by their finish._
2. To show, or to be, what makes one thing different from another.
   - Simple: To show what makes one thing different from another.
   - _Its rounded leaves differentiate this maple from similar species._
   - _Subtle pricing differentiates the premium model from the standard one._
3. To perceive the difference between things and tell them apart.
   - Simple: To be able to tell the difference between things.
   - _Trained sommeliers can differentiate between subtle regional variations in wine._
   - _The instrument differentiates between healthy and damaged tissue._
4. To change something so that it becomes different or distinct.
   - Simple: To change something so it is not the same as others.
   - _Brands differentiate their offerings through packaging and marketing._
   - _Engineers differentiated the new engine with a lighter frame._
5. To undergo the developmental process called differentiation, becoming different in form or function, or to cause a cell to undergo it.
   - Simple: To develop into a special kind of cell or tissue, or to make a cell develop that way.
   - _During early development, embryonic cells differentiate into the body's many tissue types._
   - _Specific growth factors differentiate the precursor cells into neurons._
6. In calculus, to find the derivative of a function.
   - Simple: In math, to work out how fast a function's value changes.
   - _To find the curve's slope, differentiate the function with respect to x._
   - _She differentiated the polynomial to locate its turning points._
7. In calculus, to find the differential of a function of several variables.
   - Simple: In math, to find how a function with several inputs changes.
   - _To find the total change, differentiate the function of several variables._
   - _She differentiated the multivariable expression to obtain its total differential._
8. In teaching, to present a lesson in several different ways to meet the needs of students at different levels.
   - Simple: In teaching, to present a lesson in several ways so that students at different levels can learn.
   - _Experienced teachers differentiate to reach learners across a wide range of abilities._
   - _When a class spans several reading levels, skilled instructors differentiate accordingly._

## Noun

9. A body of rock or material that has been differentiated or stratified into distinct parts.
   - Simple: A layer or material that formed when a larger mass slowly separated into different parts.
   - _The granite represents a late differentiate of a slowly cooling magma body._
   - _Field mapping revealed several differentiates within the layered intrusion._

## Origin

The word comes from New Latin 'differentiātus', the perfect passive participle of 'differentiō', built from Latin 'differentia' meaning 'difference'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/differentiate (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).