distinct

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English distincte, from Old French, from Latin distinctus, past participle of distinguere (to distinguish); see distinguish.

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪŋkt

AdjectiveEdit

distinct (comparative distincter or more distinct, superlative distinctest or most distinct)

  1. Capable of being perceived very clearly.
    • 2013 July-August, Fenella Saunders, “Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture”, in American Scientist:
      The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.
    Her voice was distinct despite the heavy traffic.
  2. Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").
    • 1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 13, in Well Tackled![1]:
      “Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.
    Horses are distinct from zebras.
  3. Noticeably different from others; distinctive.
    Olga's voice is quite distinct because of her accent.
  4. Separate in place; not conjunct or united; with from.
  5. (obsolete) Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified.
  6. (obsolete) Marked; variegated.

SynonymsEdit

AntonymsEdit

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Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

VerbEdit

distinct (third-person singular simple present distincts, present participle distincting, simple past and past participle distincted)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To distinguish; to make a distinction.
    • 1788, James McHenry, letter to George Washington, 27 July, in The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections 1788–1790, vol. 2, ed. Gordon DenBoer, University of Wisconsin Press, 1984, page 109:
      Here every means is made use of to do away all distincting between federal and antifederal and I suspect with no very friendly design to the federal cause.

Further readingEdit

FrenchEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin distinctus.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

distinct (feminine distincte, masculine plural distincts, feminine plural distinctes)

  1. distinct; discrete (separate, distinguished, different)

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit

RomanianEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from French distinct, Latin distinctus.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

distinct m or n (feminine singular distinctă, masculine plural distincți, feminine and neuter plural distincte)

  1. distinct

DeclensionEdit

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit