differentiate: Meaning and Definition of

dif•fer•en•ti•ate

Pronunciation: (dif"u-ren'shē-āt"), [key]
— v., -at•ed, -at•ing.
—v.t.
  1. to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
  2. to change; alter.
  3. to perceive the difference in or between.
  4. to make different by modification, as a biological species.
  5. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.
—v.i.
  1. to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
  2. to make a distinction.
  3. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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