/ ˈdɪfrəns; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , U ] difference (between A and B) | difference (in sth) the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which sb/sth has changed :
There are no significant differences between the education systems of the two countries.
He was studying the complex similarities and differences between humans and animals.
There's no difference in the results.
She noticed a marked difference in the children on her second visit.
I can never tell the difference (= distinguish) between the twins
There's a world of difference between liking someone and loving them.
What a difference! You look great with your hair like that.
OPP similarity
2.
[ sing. , U ] difference (in sth) (between A and B) the amount that sth is greater or smaller than sth else :
There's not much difference in price between the two computers.
There's an age difference of six years between the boys (= one is six years older than the other) .
I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference (= the rest of the money that you need) .
We measured the difference in temperature.
3.
[ C ] a disagreement between people :
We have our differences , but she's still my sister.
Why don't you settle your differences and be friends again?
There was a difference of opinion over who had won.
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IDIOMS
- make a, no, some, etc. difference (to / in sb/sth)
- make all the difference (to sb/sth)
- same difference
- with a difference
—more at bury , sink verb , split verb , world
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin differentia difference , from different- carrying away, from the verb differre , from dis- from, away + ferre bring, carry.