difference

Word family noun difference differentiation differentiadifferentiabilitydifferentiatordifferential gearadjective different differentiabledifferentialverb differ differentiate adverb differently differentially

dif·fe·rence /ˈdɪfərəns/ S1 W1 noun

1 [countableC, uncountableU]DIFFERENT a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other 差别，差异 OPP similarity

difference between

There’s a big difference between knowing that something is true, and being able to prove it.

知道什么正确与能够证明它正确，这之间有很大的不同。

There is very little difference between the parties on green issues.

各党派在环保问题上分歧很少。

Do children know the difference between right and wrong?

儿童知道对和错的区别吗？

difference in

Researchers found a number of important differences in the way boys and girls learn.

研究人员发现男孩和女孩的学习方法有一些重大差异。

5There's a world of difference (= there’s a very big difference ) between us.

我们之间有着天壤之别。

n There’s a world of difference (=there’s a very big difference) between being alone and being lonely.

2 [singular, uncountableU]DIFFERENT the amount by which one thing is greater or smaller than another 〔数量上的〕差别，差异

difference in age/size etc

There’s not much difference in price.

价格上没有多少差别。

There’s a five-hour time difference between London and New York.

伦敦与纽约有五小时的时差。

→ split the difference at split1(9)

3 make a/the difference EFFECT/INFLUENCEto have an important effect or influence on something or someone 有作用，有影响

Whatever she did, it made no difference.

不管她做什么都没有用。

make a/the difference to

One more person wouldn’t make any difference to the arrangements.

多一个人对安排不会有影响。

make a/the difference between

It could make the difference between missing your train and getting to work on time.

这可能关系到你是赶不上火车，还是能够准时上班。

Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence).

有个好老师对亚历克斯来说影响很大。

Examples from the Corpus

made all the difference• And that has made all the difference in the world.• It was that connection and that relationship, claims Morris, which has made all the difference in his life.• A few ricochets have made all the difference.• Outside, in the A-frame jungle, it made all the difference in the world.• Pot-growing and planting in good soil near sea level made all the difference.• That one play made all the difference.• With these and other examples, promotion probably made all the difference.• He was a Swaledale man who arrived in 1910 and that made all the difference.

4 it makes no difference to somebody used to say that it does not matter to someone which thing happens, is chosen etc 对某人来说没有关系，对某人而言没什么差别

Morning or afternoon. It makes no difference to me.

上午或下午都行，我无所谓。

Examples from the Corpus

it makes no difference to somebody• But it makes no difference to Spiderglass what you call yourself.• That does not mean it makes no difference to social welfare which rules we settle upon.

5 our/your/their differences ARGUEdisagreements 我们的/你们的/他们的分歧[不和]

We’ve had our differences in the past.

过去我们也有过分歧。

settle/resolve your differences (=agree not to argue anymore) 解决你们之间的分歧

Examples from the Corpus

settle/resolve your differences• When the two kings had resolved their differences, Dynamius sided firmly with Childebert.• What happens after the packs have settled their differences will decide the issue.• Having settled her differences, she gave my hand a tentative lick.• The warring sides finally came face-to-face at a meeting designed to help them settle their differences.• But Lissovsky's biggest problem is to persuade the gangsters who frequent the club to settle their differences elsewhere.• We have to settle our differences and come together as one.• The pope as the premier bishop was there to settle their differences and to support and encourage.• It is that they are not talking because they see no way to settle their differences.

6 difference of opinion DISAGREEa slight disagreement 轻微的意见分歧

There have been some differences of opinion as to exactly how the money should be spent.

大家对这笔钱究竟该怎么花意见有些分歧。

Examples from the Corpus

difference of opinion• I just have a difference of opinion with Sen.• There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.• The split reflects a difference of opinion simmering for months within the Republican Party.• There were also differences of opinion about the degree of malice involved.• Despite these economically based differences of opinion, those passing initiative petitions claim to have found widespread public support.• And here lies a fundamental difference of opinion - how should a National Park operate?• There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.• Miss Diane died of a brain haemorrhage after a sharp difference of opinion with the producer about salary.• Has the case resulted in significant differences of opinion in the courts below?• Some difference of opinion exists as to the order of drugs to be administered.

7 with a difference informalGOOD/EXCELLENT used to describe something which is interesting or unusual, especially in a good way 不同寻常，非同一般

an adventure holiday with a difference

非同一般的历险度假

Examples from the Corpus

with a difference• All silent as before, but with a difference.• Feminists encounter similar problems in dealing with differences between subjects.• Voice over Read in studio A pub with a difference has just opened in Herefordshire.• These are children's book reviews with a difference - the children are writing the reviews.• So the man laid a foot rule on the table in front of him-but a foot rule with a difference.• They decided to open a health food store-but a health food store with a difference.• He brings his own troubled son along, and the pattern repeats, though with a difference.• A recording set up with a difference.

COLLOCATIONS

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + difference

a big/major/huge difference 大的/主要的/巨大的差异

I think you’ll notice a big difference.

我想你会注意到一个很大的区别。

an important/significant/crucial difference 重要的/显著的/关键的差异

A study of the two groups of students showed a significant difference.

对两组学生进行的研究表明了一个显著的差异。

a slight/small/minor difference 微小的/小的/较小的差异

There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird.

雄鸟和雌鸟只有微小的区别。

a marked/dramatic difference (=very noticeable) 显著的差异

There was a marked difference between the two sets of results.

两组结果存在显著差异。

a subtle difference (=not obvious) 细微的差异

nThere’s a subtle difference in flavour between these coffees.

an essential/fundamental difference (=a very basic one) 根本的区别

nThe fundamental differences between the two sides slowly emerged.

cultural/political/regional etc differences 文化/政治/区域等差异

nthe major cultural differences between the west and the east

class differences (=between different classes of society) 阶级差异

nPeople’s answers to the questions showed clear class differences.

sex/gender differences (=between men and women) 性别差异

ngender differences in levels of criminality

individual differences (=between one person and another) 个体差异

nWe respect the children’s individual differences.

verbs

show a difference 显示差异

Our data showed considerable national differences.

我们的数据反映出很大的国家差异。

know the difference (=know how two things are different) 知道区别

If you don’t know the difference between two words, your dictionary can help.

如果你不知道两个单词的区别,词典可以帮助你。

can tell/see the difference (=can recognize how two things are different) 看得出差异

I can’t really see the difference between these two colours.

我真的看不出这两种颜色的差别。

notice a difference 注意到区别

nShe has noticed a dramatic difference in her energy levels.

spot the difference (=see the difference) 看到区别

nIt’s easy to spot the difference between real and imitation leather.

n THESAURUS

difference a detail, fact, or quality that makes one person or thing different from another

We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.

| difference between

Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.

The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat’s milk.

| difference in

I don’t think there’s any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.

| know the difference

He’s speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don’t you know the difference?

contrast a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody

What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso’s early style and his later work.

gap a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between

There’s a ten-year gap between Kay’s two children.

The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.

| age/gender/income etc gap

The age gap between us didn’t seem to matter until we decided to have children.

gulf a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody

More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.

| bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication)

The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.

disparity formal a big difference between two groups of people or things – use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between

It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.

| disparity in

the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employees

| the economic/income etc disparity

The economic disparity between the area’s black and white citizens is a serious problem.

Examples from the Corpus

difference• Create an environment where every employee can feel that he or she can make a difference.• I don't think there's any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.• Perhaps the biggest differences in attitudes toward guns come between men and women.• It provides attenuation of potential difference represented by when it is negligibly loaded.• I prefer the Peugeot 406 to the 405. What's the price difference?• Even in post-classical law, then, some differences of significance between legacies and trusts persisted.• Calculate the difference between the amount you started with and what you have left.• The trade deficit is the difference between imports and exports.• He's speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don't you know the difference?• Look for little touches that will make the difference.• We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.• The explanation of the difference is important for a number of reasons.• If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your Dad and I will pay the difference.• Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.• The difference with Vygotsky's views on this issue is handled well.• The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat's milk.• From the styles of the two painters their difference is apparent.• There is a vast difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in the desert.• There was fifteen years difference in age between the two women.

difference in• Holmgren said he hasn't noticed any difference in the way Rice plays since the injury.

time difference• Because of the six-hour time difference between Washington and Hawaii, Barr received the call at 6 a. m. at his home.• No time differences had to be established or subtracted from one another or multiplied by any number of degrees.• Indeed, in Mason's experiment, the skilled readers showed smaller overall response time differences between words and nonwords.• Robison and Harrison then synchronized their watches to fix the longitude of Port Royal by the time difference between them.• She'd forgotten the time difference.• E-mail helps a lot because of the time differences.• I don't know, I've only just left Manchester, what's the time difference?• The time difference between here and there is staggering.

单词	difference
释义	difference Word family noun difference differentiation differentiadifferentiabilitydifferentiatordifferential gearadjective different differentiabledifferentialverb differ differentiate adverb differently differentially dif·fe·rence /ˈdɪfərəns/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 [countableC, uncountableU]DIFFERENT a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other 差别，差异 OPP similarity difference between There’s a big difference between knowing that something is true, and being able to prove it. 知道什么正确与能够证明它正确，这之间有很大的不同。 There is very little difference between the parties on green issues. 各党派在环保问题上分歧很少。 Do children know the difference between right and wrong? 儿童知道对和错的区别吗？ difference in Researchers found a number of important differences in the way boys and girls learn. 研究人员发现男孩和女孩的学习方法有一些重大差异。 5There's a world of difference (= there’s a very big difference ) between us. 我们之间有着天壤之别。 n There’s a world of difference (=there’s a very big difference) between being alone and being lonely. 2 [singular, uncountableU]DIFFERENT the amount by which one thing is greater or smaller than another 〔数量上的〕差别，差异 difference in age/size etc There’s not much difference in price. 价格上没有多少差别。 There’s a five-hour time difference between London and New York. 伦敦与纽约有五小时的时差。 → split the difference at split1(9) 3 make a/the difference EFFECT/INFLUENCEto have an important effect or influence on something or someone 有作用，有影响 Whatever she did, it made no difference. 不管她做什么都没有用。 make a/the difference to One more person wouldn’t make any difference to the arrangements. 多一个人对安排不会有影响。 make a/the difference between It could make the difference between missing your train and getting to work on time. 这可能关系到你是赶不上火车，还是能够准时上班。 Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence). 有个好老师对亚历克斯来说影响很大。 Examples from the Corpus made all the difference• And that has made all the difference in the world.• It was that connection and that relationship, claims Morris, which has made all the difference in his life.• A few ricochets have made all the difference.• Outside, in the A-frame jungle, it made all the difference in the world.• Pot-growing and planting in good soil near sea level made all the difference.• That one play made all the difference.• With these and other examples, promotion probably made all the difference.• He was a Swaledale man who arrived in 1910 and that made all the difference. 4 it makes no difference to somebody used to say that it does not matter to someone which thing happens, is chosen etc 对某人来说没有关系，对某人而言没什么差别 Morning or afternoon. It makes no difference to me. 上午或下午都行，我无所谓。 Examples from the Corpus it makes no difference to somebody• But it makes no difference to Spiderglass what you call yourself.• That does not mean it makes no difference to social welfare which rules we settle upon. 5 our/your/their differences ARGUEdisagreements 我们的/你们的/他们的分歧[不和] We’ve had our differences in the past. 过去我们也有过分歧。 settle/resolve your differences (=agree not to argue anymore) 解决你们之间的分歧 Examples from the Corpus settle/resolve your differences• When the two kings had resolved their differences, Dynamius sided firmly with Childebert.• What happens after the packs have settled their differences will decide the issue.• Having settled her differences, she gave my hand a tentative lick.• The warring sides finally came face-to-face at a meeting designed to help them settle their differences.• But Lissovsky's biggest problem is to persuade the gangsters who frequent the club to settle their differences elsewhere.• We have to settle our differences and come together as one.• The pope as the premier bishop was there to settle their differences and to support and encourage.• It is that they are not talking because they see no way to settle their differences. 6 difference of opinion DISAGREEa slight disagreement 轻微的意见分歧 There have been some differences of opinion as to exactly how the money should be spent. 大家对这笔钱究竟该怎么花意见有些分歧。 Examples from the Corpus difference of opinion• I just have a difference of opinion with Sen.• There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.• The split reflects a difference of opinion simmering for months within the Republican Party.• There were also differences of opinion about the degree of malice involved.• Despite these economically based differences of opinion, those passing initiative petitions claim to have found widespread public support.• And here lies a fundamental difference of opinion - how should a National Park operate?• There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.• Miss Diane died of a brain haemorrhage after a sharp difference of opinion with the producer about salary.• Has the case resulted in significant differences of opinion in the courts below?• Some difference of opinion exists as to the order of drugs to be administered. 7 with a difference informalGOOD/EXCELLENT used to describe something which is interesting or unusual, especially in a good way 不同寻常，非同一般 an adventure holiday with a difference 非同一般的历险度假 Examples from the Corpus with a difference• All silent as before, but with a difference.• Feminists encounter similar problems in dealing with differences between subjects.• Voice over Read in studio A pub with a difference has just opened in Herefordshire.• These are children's book reviews with a difference - the children are writing the reviews.• So the man laid a foot rule on the table in front of him-but a foot rule with a difference.• They decided to open a health food store-but a health food store with a difference.• He brings his own troubled son along, and the pattern repeats, though with a difference.• A recording set up with a difference. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + difference a big/major/huge difference 大的/主要的/巨大的差异 I think you’ll notice a big difference. 我想你会注意到一个很大的区别。 an important/significant/crucial difference 重要的/显著的/关键的差异 A study of the two groups of students showed a significant difference. 对两组学生进行的研究表明了一个显著的差异。 a slight/small/minor difference 微小的/小的/较小的差异 There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird. 雄鸟和雌鸟只有微小的区别。 a marked/dramatic difference (=very noticeable) 显著的差异 There was a marked difference between the two sets of results. 两组结果存在显著差异。 a subtle difference (=not obvious) 细微的差异 nThere’s a subtle difference in flavour between these coffees. an essential/fundamental difference (=a very basic one) 根本的区别 nThe fundamental differences between the two sides slowly emerged. cultural/political/regional etc differences 文化/政治/区域等差异 nthe major cultural differences between the west and the east class differences (=between different classes of society) 阶级差异 nPeople’s answers to the questions showed clear class differences. sex/gender differences (=between men and women) 性别差异 ngender differences in levels of criminality individual differences (=between one person and another) 个体差异 nWe respect the children’s individual differences. verbs show a difference 显示差异 Our data showed considerable national differences. 我们的数据反映出很大的国家差异。 know the difference (=know how two things are different) 知道区别 If you don’t know the difference between two words, your dictionary can help. 如果你不知道两个单词的区别,词典可以帮助你。 can tell/see the difference (=can recognize how two things are different) 看得出差异 I can’t really see the difference between these two colours. 我真的看不出这两种颜色的差别。 notice a difference 注意到区别 nShe has noticed a dramatic difference in her energy levels. spot the difference (=see the difference) 看到区别 nIt’s easy to spot the difference between real and imitation leather. n THESAURUS difference a detail, fact, or quality that makes one person or thing different from another We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences. \| difference between Try and spot the differences between these two pictures. The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat’s milk. \| difference in I don’t think there’s any difference in the way you pronounce these two words. \| know the difference He’s speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don’t you know the difference? contrast a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso’s early style and his later work. gap a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between There’s a ten-year gap between Kay’s two children. The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country. \| age/gender/income etc gap The age gap between us didn’t seem to matter until we decided to have children. gulf a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked. \| bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication) The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party. disparity formal a big difference between two groups of people or things – use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women. \| disparity in the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employees \| the economic/income etc disparity The economic disparity between the area’s black and white citizens is a serious problem. Examples from the Corpus difference• Create an environment where every employee can feel that he or she can make a difference.• I don't think there's any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.• Perhaps the biggest differences in attitudes toward guns come between men and women.• It provides attenuation of potential difference represented by when it is negligibly loaded.• I prefer the Peugeot 406 to the 405. What's the price difference?• Even in post-classical law, then, some differences of significance between legacies and trusts persisted.• Calculate the difference between the amount you started with and what you have left.• The trade deficit is the difference between imports and exports.• He's speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don't you know the difference?• Look for little touches that will make the difference.• We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.• The explanation of the difference is important for a number of reasons.• If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your Dad and I will pay the difference.• Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.• The difference with Vygotsky's views on this issue is handled well.• The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat's milk.• From the styles of the two painters their difference is apparent.• There is a vast difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in the desert.• There was fifteen years difference in age between the two women. difference in• Holmgren said he hasn't noticed any difference in the way Rice plays since the injury. time difference• Because of the six-hour time difference between Washington and Hawaii, Barr received the call at 6 a. m. at his home.• No time differences had to be established or subtracted from one another or multiplied by any number of degrees.• Indeed, in Mason's experiment, the skilled readers showed smaller overall response time differences between words and nonwords.• Robison and Harrison then synchronized their watches to fix the longitude of Port Royal by the time difference between them.• She'd forgotten the time difference.• E-mail helps a lot because of the time differences.• I don't know, I've only just left Manchester, what's the time difference?• The time difference between here and there is staggering.
随便看	look who's here look who's here! look who's talking, look/work a treat loom loomed looming loom large looms loon loonier loonies looniest looniness looning loony loony-bin loony bin loonybin loop looped loophole loopholes loopier loopiest