transitive verb
- to separate or mark off by differences; perceive or show the difference in; differentiate
- to be an essential characteristic of; characterize
- to perceive clearly; recognize plainly by any of the senses
- to separate and classify
- to make famous or eminent; give distinction to: to distinguish oneself in battle
Origin:
< L distinguere, to separate, discriminate < dis-, apart + -stinguere, to prick < IE base *steig-, to prick, pierce (> stick, Ger sticken, to embroider, Gr stigma) + -ish, sense
intransitive verb
to make a distinction (between or among)