n.
Pronunciation: ˌ di-f ə - ' ren(t)-sh( ē -) ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ti · ae \ -sh ē - ˌ ē , -sh ē - ˌ ī \
Etymology: Latin, difference, from different-, differens
Date: 1551
: an element, feature, or factor that distinguishes one entity, state, or class from another especially : a characteristic trait distinguishing a species from other species of the same genus