contrast

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences: an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.
2. v. To show differences when compared: siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
3. v. Linguistics To evince a difference that can distinguish meaning: Voiced and voiceless stops contrast in English but not in Cree.
4. n. The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
5. n. The state of being contrasted: red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
6. n. A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared: the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
7. n. One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another: My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
8. n. The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
9. n. The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
10. n. Linguistics A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To set in opposition, as two or more objects of a like kind, with a view to show their differences; compare by observing differences of character or qualities: used absolutely or followed by with: as, to contrast two pictures or statues; to contrast the style of Dickens with that of Thackeray.
2. In the fine arts, to exhibit the differences or dissimilitude of; heighten the effect of, or show to advantage, by opposition of position, attitude, form, or color.
3. To stand in contrast or opposition; exhibit diversity on comparison.
4. n. Opposition; dispute.
5. n. Opposition in respect of certain qualities; antagonistic difference; direct opposition: as, the contrasts and resemblances of the seasons.
6. n. Comparison by exhibiting the dissimilitude or the contrariety of qualities in the things compared; the placing of opposites together in order to make the antagonism of their qualities more apparent.
7. n. In the fine arts, opposition of varied forms or colors, which by juxtaposition magnify the effect of one another's peculiarities.
8. n. In psychological optics, the reciprocal induction of colors and brightnesses in the present field of regard. Contrast is essentially a matter of the present moment; under steady fixation the phenomena of contrast give place to those of adaptation. The chief laws of contrast are as follows: Contrast always takes the direction of greatest qualitative difference—red-green, blue-yellow, black-white, etc.
9. n. In psychology, generally, any supposed intensification or throwing into relief by juxtaposition with an opposite.

Wiktionary

1. n. countable A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.
2. n. uncountable The degree of this difference.
3. n. countable A difference between two objects, people or concepts.
4. n. countable A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.
5. n. countable, uncountable, rhetoric Antithesis.
6. v. transitive To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.
7. v. intransitive To form a contrast.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities.
2. v. To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities.
3. v. (Fine Arts) To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object.
4. n. The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities.
5. n. Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison.
6. n. (Fine Arts) The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
2. v. put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
3. n. the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
4. n. the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
5. v. to show differences when compared; be different
6. n. the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
7. n. a conceptual separation or distinction