DISTINGUISH

distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart

(verb) mark as different; “We distinguish several kinds of maple”

distinguish, mark, differentiate

(verb) be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; “His modesty distinguishes him from his peers”

identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, name

(verb) identify as in botany or biology, for example

signalize, signalise, distinguish

(verb) make conspicuous or noteworthy

spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart

(verb) detect with the senses; “The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards”; “I can’t make out the faces in this photograph”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Verb

distinguish (third-person singular simple present distinguishes, present participle distinguishing, simple past and past participle distinguished)

To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.

To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.

(transitive, obsolete) To make to differ.

Usage notes

In sense “see a difference”, more casual than differentiate or the formal discriminate; more casual is “tell the difference”.

Synonyms

• (see a difference): differentiate, discriminate; see also tell apart

Antonyms

• (to see someone or something as different from others): confuse

Source: Wiktionary

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Dis*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] Etym: [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]

1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic. Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. Dryden. Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low. Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.

3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum. We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. Watts. Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. Who distinguisheth thee 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.

Syn.

– To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

Dis*tin"guish, v. i.

1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.] The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer. Taylor.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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