differentiate

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To constitute the distinction between: subspecies that are differentiated by the markings on their wings.
2. v. To perceive or show the difference in or between; discriminate.
3. v. To make different by alteration or modification.
4. v. Mathematics To calculate the derivative or differential of (a function).
5. v. To become distinct or specialized; acquire a different character.
6. v. To make distinctions; discriminate.
7. v. Biology To undergo differentiation.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To make different; distinguish by differences; constitute a difference between: as, color of skin differentiates the races of men.
2. Specifically In biology, to accomplish or develop differentiation in; make unlike by modification; specialize in structure or function.
3. In logic, to discriminate between, by observing or describing the differences.
4. In mathematics, to obtain the differential or the differential coefficient of: as, to differentiate an equation.
5. To acquire a distinct and separate character.
6. n. A differential coefficient.
7. In history and cytology, to reveal or resolve structures in (a cell, tissue, or organ) by treating with some stain or reagent.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive To show, or be the distinction between two things.
2. v. intransitive To perceive the difference between things; to discriminate.
3. v. transitive, intransitive To modify, or be modified.
4. v. transitive, mathematics To calculate the derivative of a function.
5. v. transitive, mathematics To calculate the differential of a function of multiple variables.
6. v. intransitive, biology To produce distinct organs or to achieve specific functions by a process of development called differentiation.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize.
2. v. To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same class; to discriminate.
3. v. (Math.) To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of.
4. v. (Biol.) To acquire a distinct and separate character.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
2. v. evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment
3. v. become different during development
4. v. calculate a derivative; take the derivative
5. v. become distinct and acquire a different character
6. v. mark as different