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3 : ANOTHER

4 : UNUSUAL, SPECIAL

Synonyms

[1, 2] disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, other, unalike, unlike, various; also divers, miscellaneous, several, sundry, variant, varied; individual, particular, peculiar, single; unequal; disproportionate

Antonyms

alike, indistinguishable, like, parallel, same, similar

dif·fer·ent·ly adverb : in a different manner

Synonyms

else, other, otherwise—more at OTHERWISE

1differential adjective : showing, creating, or relating to a difference

2differential noun 1 : the amount or degree by which things differ

2 : DIFFERENTIAL GEAR

differential gear noun : an arrangement of gears in an automobile that allows one wheel to turn faster than another (as in rounding curves)

dif·fer·en·ti·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing 1 : to make or become different

2 : to attain a specialized adult form and function during development

3 : to recognize or state the difference <~ between them>

— dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion noun

Synonyms

discern, discriminate, distinguish, separate—more at DISTINGUISH

dif·fi·cult adjective 1 : hard to do or make

2 : hard to understand or deal with <~ reading>

Synonyms

[1] arduous, demanding, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, herculean, laborious, murderous, rough, stiff, strenuous, tall, toilsome, tough—more at HARD

[2] catchy, delicate, knotty, problematic, spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricky—more at TRICKY

dif·fi·cul·ty noun, plural -ties [ORIGIN: ME difficulte, fr. AF difficulté, fr. L difficilis not easy, fr. dis- not + facilis easy]

1 : difficult nature

2 : DISAGREEMENT

3 : something that is difficult or serves to impede

4 : an instance of trouble

Synonyms

adversity, asperity, hardness, hardship, rigor; also discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; hump

complexity, complication, intricacy—more at COMPLICATION

dif·fi·dent adjective 1 : lacking confidence

2 : RESERVED 1

— dif·fi·dence noun

— dif·fi·dent·ly adverb

Synonyms

bashful, coy, demure, introverted, modest, retiring, sheepish, shy—more at SHY

dif·frac·tion noun : the bending or spreading of waves (as of light) esp. when passing through narrow slits

1diffuse adjective 1 : being at once verbose and ill-organized <~ writing>

2 : not concentrated or localized <~ light>

Synonyms

circuitous, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy—more at WORDY

2diffuse verb dif·fused; dif·fus·ing 1 : to pour out or spread widely

2 : to undergo or cause to undergo diffusion

3 : to break up light by diffusion

dif·fu·sion noun 1 : a diffusing or a being diffused

2 : movement of particles (as of a gas) from a region of high to one of lower concentration

3 : the reflection of light from a rough surface or the passage of light through a translucent material

1dig verb dug ; dig·ging 1 : to turn up the soil (as with a spade)

2 : to hollow out or form by removing earth <~ a hole>

3 a : to uncover or seek by turning up earth <~ potatoes>

b : to penetrate below the surface in search of something hidden or buried — used with into

c : to advance by or as if by removing or pushing aside material <~ through the toy box>

4 : to come upon by searching or effort : DISCOVER <~ up information>

5 : POKE, THRUST <~ a person in the ribs>

6 : to work hard

7 a : UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE

b : to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : LIKE

Synonyms

usually dig into [3b] delve, explore, go, inquire, investigate, look, probe, research—more at EXPLORE

usually dig through [3c] dredge, hunt, rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, search—more at SEARCH

usually