Definition of difference

• n. - The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?
• n. - Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
• n. - That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
• n. - Choice; preference.
• n. - An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
• n. - The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
• n. - The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.
• v. t. - To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.