Main Entry: dif·fer·en·ti·ate

Pronunciation: \ˌdif-ə-ˈren-chē-ˌāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed; dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing

transitive verb

1 : to constitute a difference that distinguishes <the history of the injury also differentiates these two fractures—J. S. Keene et al>
2 : to cause differentiation of in the course of development
3 : to discriminate or give expression to a specific difference that distinguishes <quickly learned to differentiate sharp pain from dull pain>
4 : to cause differentiation in (a specimen for microscopic examination) by staining

intransitive verb

1 : to recognize or express a difference <differentiate between humans and the rest of the primates>
2 : to undergo differentiation <when a B cell matures, it differentiates into a plasma cell that secretes antibodies—R. C. Gallo>