differentiate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb mark as different
    secernate; severalise; separate; severalize; tell apart; distinguish; tell; secern.
    • We distinguish several kinds of maple
  2. verb be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
    distinguish; mark.
    • His modesty distinguishes him from his peers
  3. verb calculate a derivative; take the derivative
  4. verb become different during development
    • cells differentiate
  5. verb evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment
    specialise; specialize; speciate.
  6. verb become distinct and acquire a different character

WordNet

Dif`fer*en"ti*ate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize.
    The word then was differentiated into the two forms then and than. Earle.
    Two or more of the forms assumed by the same original word become differentiated in signification. Dr. Murray.
  2. To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same class; to discriminate. Earle.
  3. (Math.) To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of; as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.
Dif`fer*en"ti*ate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Biol.) To acquire a distinct and separate character. Huxley.

Webster 1913