Adjacent Words

Discriminate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DISCRIMINATE, v.t. [l., difference, distinction; differently applied; Gr., L.]
1. To distinguish; to observe the difference between; as, we may usually discriminate true from false modesty.
2. To separate; to select from others; to make a distinction between; as, in the last judgment, the righteous will be discriminated from the wicked.
3. To mark with notes of difference; to distinguish by some note or mark. We discriminate animals by names, as nature has discriminated them by different shapes and habits.
DISCRIMINATE, v.i.
1. To make a difference or distinction; as, in the application of law, and the punishment of crimes, the judge should discriminate between degrees of guilt.
2. To observe or note a difference; to distinguish; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.
DISCRIMINATE, a. Distinguished; having the difference marked.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions; "discriminate judgments"; "discriminate people" [ant: indiscriminate] v
1: recognize or perceive the difference [syn: discriminate, know apart]
2: treat differently on the basis of sex or race [syn: discriminate, separate, single out]
3: distinguish; "I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish"

Merriam Webster's

verb (-nated; -nating) Etymology: Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between — more at discern Date: 1628 transitive verb 1. a. to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of b. distinguish, differentiate <discriminate hundreds of colors> 2. to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences; especially to distinguish from another like object intransitive verb 1. a. to make a distinction <discriminate among historical sources> b. to use good judgment 2. to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit <discriminate in favor of your friends> <discriminate against a certain nationality>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 intr. (often foll. by between) make or see a distinction; differentiate (cannot discriminate between right and wrong). 2 intr. make a distinction, esp. unjustly and on the basis of race, colour, or sex. 3 intr. (foll. by against) select for unfavourable treatment. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by from) make or see or constitute a difference in or between (many things discriminate one person from another). 5 intr. observe distinctions carefully; have good judgement. 6 tr. mark as distinctive; be a distinguishing feature of. Derivatives: discriminately adv. discriminative adj. discriminator n. discriminatory adj. Etymology: L discriminare f. discrimen -minis distinction f. discernere DISCERN

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Discriminate Dis*crim"i*nate, a. [L. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr. discernere. See Discern, and cf. Criminate.] Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens. --Bacon.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Discriminate Dis*crim"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discriminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Discriminating.] To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. --Cowper. To discriminate the goats from the sheep. --Barrow.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Discriminate Dis*crim"i*nate, v. i. 1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption. 2. (a) To treat unequally. (b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(discriminates, discriminating, discriminated) 1. If you can discriminate between two things, you can recognize that they are different. He is incapable of discriminating between a good idea and a terrible one... VERB: V between pl-n 2. To discriminate against a group of people or in favour of a group of people means to unfairly treat them worse or better than other groups. They believe the law discriminates against women. ...legislation which would discriminate in favour of racial minorities... VERB: V against n, V in favour of n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. Distinguish, mark the difference between, tell one from the other. II. v. n. Distinguish, make a distinction, note differences, judge nicely or accurately, be discriminating.

Moby Thesaurus

analyze, anatomize, atomize, change, chop logic, collate, compare, contradistinguish, contrast, demarcate, demark, desynonymize, difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate against, disequalize, disfavor, disjoin, distinguish, diversify, divide, draw the line, extricate, favor, individualize, individuate, make a distinction, mark, mark off, mark out, mark the interface, modify, note, particularize, perceive, personalize, pick out, play favorites, prefer, red-bait, refine a distinction, remark, screen, screen out, segregate, select, separate, set a limit, set apart, set off, sever, severalize, show preference, sieve, sieve out, sift, sift out, sort, sort out, specialize, split hairs, subdivide, subtilize, treat unequally, vary, winnow