/ dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ; NAmE / verb
1.
distinguish (between) A and B | distinguish A from B to recognize the difference between two people or things
SYN differentiate :
[ v ]
At what age are children able to distinguish between right and wrong?
[ vn ]
It was hard to distinguish one twin from the other.
Sometimes reality and fantasy are hard to distinguish.
2.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) distinguish A (from B) to be a characteristic that makes two people, animals or things different :
What was it that distinguished her from her classmates?
The male bird is distinguished from the female by its red beak.
Does your cat have any distinguishing marks?
3.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be able to see or hear sth
SYN differentiate , make out :
I could not distinguish her words, but she sounded agitated.
➡ note at identify
4.
[ vn ] distinguish yourself (as sth) to do sth so well that people notice and admire you :
She has already distinguished herself as an athlete.
► dis·tin·guish·able / dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃəbl; NAmE / adjective distinguishable (from sb/sth) :
The male bird is easily distinguishable from the female.
The coast was barely distinguishable in the mist.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: formed irregularly from French distinguer or Latin distinguere , from dis- apart + stinguere put out (from a base meaning prick ).