— contrastable , adj. — contrastably , adv. — contrastingly , adv.
v. /keuhn trast", kon"trast/ ; n. /kon"trast/ , v.t.
1. to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc., of: Contrast the political rights of Romans and Greeks.
v.i.
2. to exhibit unlikeness on comparison with something else; form a contrast.
3. Ling. to differ in a way that can serve to distinguish meanings: The sounds ( p ) and ( b ) contrast in the words "pin" and "bin."
n.
4. the act of contrasting; the state of being contrasted.
5. a striking exhibition of unlikeness.
6. a person or thing that is strikingly unlike in comparison: The weather down here is a welcome contrast to what we're having back home.
7. opposition or juxtaposition of different forms, lines, or colors in a work of art to intensify each element's properties and produce a more dynamic expressiveness.
8. Photog. the relative difference between light and dark areas of a print or negative.
9. Television. the brightness ratio of the lightest to the darkest part of the television screen image.
10. Ling. a difference between linguistic elements, esp. sounds, that can serve to distinguish meanings.
[ 1480-90; (v.) contraster contrastare to contest contra- CONTRA- 1 + stare to STAND; (n.) earlier contraste contrasto conflict, deriv. of contrastare ]
Syn. 1. differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, oppose.