differentiate

dif·fer·en·ti·ate

verb \ˌdif-ə-ˈren-chē-ˌāt\

dif·fer·en·ti·at·eddif·fer·en·ti·at·ing

Definition of DIFFERENTIATE

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>