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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | distinguer, from Latin distinguere 'to separate using a sharp pointed object' |
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dis‧tin‧guish S3 W3
1 [intransitive and transitive] to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people [= differentiate]
2 [transitive not in progressive] to be the thing that makes someone or something different or special
distinguish somebody/something from 
The factor that distinguishes this company from the competition is customer service.
The factor that distinguishes this company from the competition is customer service. distinguishing feature/mark/characteristic The main distinguishing feature of this species is the leaf shape.
The main distinguishing feature of this species is the leaf shape.3 [transitive not in progressive] written to be able to see the shape of something or hear a particular sound : The light was too dim for me to distinguish anything clearly.
The light was too dim for me to distinguish anything clearly.4 to do something so well that people notice and remember you : He distinguished himself on several occasions in the civil war.
distinguish yourself
He distinguished himself on several occasions in the civil war.