English edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differō (carry apart, put off, defer; differ), from dis- (apart) + ferō (carry, bear). Compare Ancient Greek διαφέρω (diaphérō). Doublet of defer (etymology 1).

Verb edit

differ (third-person singular simple present differs, present participle differing, simple past and past participle differed)

  1. (intransitive) Not to have the same traits or characteristics; to be unalike or distinct.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:differ
    These shoes only differ from those ones in having slightly longer laces.
  2. (intransitive, people, groups, etc.) To have diverging opinions, disagree.
    • May 11, 1827, George Canning, Changes in the Administration
      I differ from the honourable baronet on both these subjects
  3. (intransitive) To be separated in quantity.
    The numbers 3 and 21 differ by 18.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit

Etymology 2 edit

From diff +‎ -er.

Noun edit

differ (plural differs)

  1. (computing) A program that diffs, a diff.
    Synonym: diff

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Latin edit

Verb edit

differ

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of differō