Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Distinguishing |
DistinguishingAdjective1. Serving to distinguish or identify a species or group; "the distinguishing mark of the species is its plumage"; "distinctive tribal tattoos"; "we were asked to describe any identifying marks or distinguishing features". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "distinguishing" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
Synonyms: DistinguishingSynonyms: distinctive (adj), identifying(a) (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Difference | Other, another, not the same; unequal. unmatched; widely apart, poles apart, distinctive, characteristic; discriminative; distinguishing. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Title |
Books |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | A distinguishing characteristic of biofilms is the presence of extracellular polymeric substances, primarily polysaccharides, surrounding and encasing the cells. Here, these polysaccharides have been visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Credit: CDC. |  | Babesia organisms resemble Plasmodium falciparum, however, Babesia parasites present several distinguishing features. They vary more in shape and in size, and they do not produce pigment. Credit: CDC. |
 | Cast iron column; column capital. Measured drawing delineated by U. J. Theriot and A. Boyd Cruise, April 1940. (Reproduction Number: HABS LA-53, sheet 21 of 26; negative number LC-USZA3-5) The cast-iron column and capital shown here in this HABS measured drawing are distinguishing features of the Le Pretre Mansion in the famous French Quarter of New Orleans. Built around 1836, the mansion is named after its second owner, Jean Baptiste Le Pretre, a local merchant who added the second- and third-story cast-iron balconies to the exterior after 1850. The mansion is also known for its high basement, the first of its kind to be built in the French Quarter. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Dress, the most distinguishing mark of a military genius. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Dress, the most distinguishing mark of a military genius / designed and engraved by James Akin, Philada. Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
John Ruskin | The distinguishing sign of slavery is to have a price, and to be bought for it. |
Oscar Wilde | Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity. It is their distinguishing characteristic. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | The distinguishing feature of Communism is not the abolition of property generally, but the abolition of bourgeois property. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Emma | Austen, Jane | Every distinguishing attention that could be paid, was paid to her. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | A differential diagnosis means distinguishing food allergy from food intolerance or other illnesses. (references) | |
The ultimate outcome of this project will be to provide diagnostic criteria for distinguishing AD from alcohol-related dementia. (references) | ||
Strict guidelines for therapy have not been adequately validated to dictate thresholds for distinguishing less severely affected patients. (references) | ||
Business | The important features distinguishing one disk drive from another are performance, in terms of storage capacity and access time, and its component technologies. (references) | |
Though U.S. products tend to be 15%-20% higher in price than their competitors, American firms have been able to maintain their success by distinguishing their equipment as a higher quality product. (references) | ||
End-users typically look for vehicles that are practical and reliable to use, relatively fuel-efficient, smaller and lighter, and therefore less expensive, and that have some distinguishing, stylish features - designs that are significantly different from other cars. Norwegians are very much concerned with safety and environmental issues. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Moldova | The Supreme Court in 1999 overturned an article in the Civil Code that allowed public figures to sue for defamation without distinguishing between their public and private persons. (references) |
Economic History | Oman | Ibadhism is known for its "moderate conservatism." One distinguishing feature of Ibadhism is the choice of ruler by communal consensus and consent. (references) |
Spain | After meeting both conditions, the courts sustain the right of the distributor to claim compensation for goodwill without distinguishing between definite and indefinite duration contracts. (references) | |
Human Rights | Angola | There were unconfirmed reports that UNITA rebels targeted citizen NGO employees in the country, using darker skin color as the primary means of distinguishing them from foreign employees. (references) |
Trade | Philippines | The freight container number and corresponding seal number should be listed on the PC under distinguishing marks. (references) |
New Zealand | Movie film must be marked on the outer package as "FILMS" in black letters not less than 2 inches high and with the name of the owner, distinguishing mark, or number. (references) | |
Travel | Korea | In a Korean household, all brothers and sisters have the same last name and a common given name; the only distinguishing mark is the remaining given name. (references) |
Women | Egypt | However, illiteracy impedes some women from distinguishing between the deep-rooted tradition of FGM and religious practices. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | ABILITY, n. The natural equipment to accomplish some small part of the meaner ambitions distinguishing able men from dead ones. In the last analysis ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity. Perhaps, however, this impressive quality is rightly appraised; it is no easy task to be solemn. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
James Madison | 1809-1817 | A distinguishing feature in the operations which preceded and followed this adverse event is the use made by the enemy of the merciless savages under their influence. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Distinguishing" is generally used as a lexical verb (-ing form) -- approximately 83.83% of the time. "Distinguishing" is used about 439 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Lexical Verb (-ing form) | 83.83% | 368 | 14,720 |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 14.58% | 64 | 42,009 |
| Noun (singular) | 1.14% | 5 | 157,705 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.46% | 2 | 245,945 |
| Total | 100.00% | 439 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "distinguishing": distinguishing identifier ♦ distinguishing mark ♦ Distinguishing pennant ♦ distinguishing signal. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
based between biologically distinguishing natural race race | 4 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "distinguishing"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | مميز (characteristic, diacritical, differential, discerning, discriminative, discriminatory, distinctive, judicial, peculiar, perceptive, percipient, special, specific). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | отличаващ. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 区别 (Difference, Distinguish). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | distinktivní, rozlišovací (differential, distinctive). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | der var ikke et maaleinstrument til raadighed, som var i stand til at separere en nettovaerdi paa l/l0 til l/l000 af den naturlige baggrundsstraaling (non of the measuring instruments available was capable of clearly distinguishing 1/1O to 1/1OOO of the natural background radiation), den homogene produktionsenhed karakteriseres ved en enkelt aktivitet,dvs.input af varer og tjjenester,en produktionsproces og output af homogene produkter.De varer og tjenester,som udgoer input og output,karakteriseres selv ikke blot ved deres beskaffenhe (The distinguishing feature of a unit of homogeneous production is a unique activity which is identified by its inputs), striber (and used as a distinguishing characteristic for navigation marks, bands, shading, striations, stripes), registreringsnummer (distinguishing number), nationalitetssbetegnelse (distinguishing sign of the country, international distinguishing sign), kendingsbogstaver for medlemstaten (capital letters identifying the Member State, distinguishing letter or number of the Member State), erhvervskendetegn (professional badge, professional distinction, professional distinguishing mark), erhvervsemblem (professional badge, professional distinction, professional distinguishing mark). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | de homogene produktie-eenheid wordt gekenmerkt door één enkele activiteit,en wel door de input van produkten,een produktieproces en de output van homogene produkten.De produkten die de inputs en outputs vormen,worden zelf gekenmerkt zowel door hun aard, (The distinguishing feature of a unit of homogeneous production is a unique activity which is identified by its inputs), registratienummer (distinguishing number), onderscheidingsteken (decoration, distinctive emblem, distinguishing mark, earmark, medal, sign(badge)), onderscheid tussen de produkten van post 11.01 en die van postonderverdeling 23.02.A (distinguishing between products falling within heading no.11.01 and those falling within subheading 23.02.A), mechanisme om zelf van niet-zelf te kunnen onderscheiden (mechanism for distinguishing invaders from itself), kenletters van de Lid-Staat (capital letters identifying the Member State, distinguishing letter or number of the Member State), Identificatieteken (Distinguishing mark), hoofdletters als kenteken van de Lid-Staat (capital letters identifying the Member State, distinguishing letter or number of the Member State), herkenningsteken (distinguishing sign of the country, international distinguishing sign), er was geen meetinstrument beschikbaar waarmee ongeveer 1/1O 1/1OOO der natuurlijke omgevingsstraling nog nauwkeurig hiervan te scheiden zou zijn geweest (non of the measuring instruments available was capable of clearly distinguishing 1/1O to 1/1OOO of the natural background radiation), beroepsinsigne (professional badge, professional distinction, professional distinguishing mark). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | tunnusmerkki (characteristic, distinctive feature, mark, sign). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | distinguant. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | unterscheidend (diacritic, differencing, differential, differing, discerning, discriminating, discriminatingly, distinctive), charakteristisch (characteristic, discriminatory, distinctive, typic, typical), auszeichnend (signalizing). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | Κανένα από τα όργανα μέτρησης που διατίθενται δεν ήταν ικανό να δια-κρίνει σαφώς από την ακτινοβολία του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος μια άλλη ακ (non of the measuring instruments available was capable of clearly distinguishing 1/1O to 1/1OOO of the natural background radiation), η μονάδα ομοιογενούς παραγωγής χαρακτηρίζεται από μια αποκλειστική δραστηριότητα,η οποία προσδιορίζεται από τις εισροές της,από μια συγκ (a particular process of production and its outputs.The products which constitute the inputs and outputs are themselves distinguished not only by their physical characteristics and the extent to which they are processed but also by the technique of product, The distinguishing feature of a unit of homogeneous production is a unique activity which is identified by its inputs), ζώνες (a number of areas of contrasting colour separated from one another by straight lines, and used as a distinguishing characteristic for navigation marks, bands, stripes), επαγγελματικό διακριτικό σημείο (professional badge, professional distinction, professional distinguishing mark), λωρίδες (a number of areas of contrasting colour separated from one another by straight lines, and used as a distinguishing characteristic for navigation marks, bands, stripes, strips), διακρητικό σήμα (distinguishing signal). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | מב"יל (separating). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | megkülönböztetõ (diacritic, diacritical, differential, discriminating, discriminative, discriminatory, distinctive). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | distinto (articulate, articulately, clear, discrete, distinct, distinguished, explicit, genteel, lucid, obvious, plain, separate), peculiare (characteristic, particular, peculiar). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | ' (distinguishing oneself, standing out, top of the head), 標徴 (diagnostic character, distinguishing mark), 合印 (comradeship badge, distinguishing mark, tally, verification seal), 合い符 (comradeship badge, distinguishing mark), 合い印 (comradeship badge, distinguishing mark, tally, verification seal). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | ひょうちょう (appearing on the surface, diagnostic character, distinguishing mark, sign), あいじるし (comradeship badge, distinguishing mark), とうかく (apperception, distinguishing oneself, equal angles, overthrow of government, projected to win, standing out, top of the head). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Korean | 구별 (Distinction). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | istinguishingday distintivo (badge, brassard, discriminatory, distinctive, favor, favour, medallion). (various references) semn distinctiv (cachet, cognizance, distinguishing mark, ear-mark, label, Mark). (various references) отличительный (discriminating, discriminatory, distinctive). (various references) triuchan (a stripe of distinguishing colours in tartan, stripe of colour in tartan), suaicheantas (distinguishing mark, ensign, escutcheon). (various references) koji izdvaja. (various references) distintivo (badge, distinctive, insignia, symbol). (various references) utmärkande (differential, distinctive), särskiljande (discriminating), karakteristisk (characteristic, peculiar, racy, typical). (various references) işaret (augury, badge, character, chop, clew, clue, cue, device, distinguishing mark, earmark, ensign, foretoken, gesture, glimpse, graph, harbinger, hint, index, indication, indicator, landmark, logo, logotype, marker, note, pip, prognostic, prognostication, representation, sign, signal, signature, symbol, symptom, token, touch, trace), ayırt edici işaret (distinguishing mark). (various references) відмітний (definitive, differential, discriminating, discriminative). (various references) gwahaniaethol. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivations | |
Words ending with "distinguishing": contradistinguishing. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "distinguishing" (pronounced di'sti"nggwishing) |
| 10 | -s t i" ng g w i sh i ng | extinguishing. |
| 7 | -ng g w i sh i ng | anguishing, languishing. |
| 5 | -w i sh i ng | relinquishing. |
| 4 | -i sh i ng | accomplishing, admonishing, astonishing, banishing, brandishing, demolishing, diminishing, embellishing, establishing, finishing, flourishing, lavishing, nourishing, photofinishing, polishing, publishing, punishing, reestablishing, refinishing, refurbishing, relishing, replenishing, skirmishing, vanishing. |
| 3 | -sh i ng | abolishing, ambushing, bashing, blushing, brainwashing, brushing, cashing, clashing, crashing, crushing, dashing, dishing, fishing, flashing, flushing, furbishing, furnishing, gnashing, gushing, hashing, lashing, meshing, onrushing, overfishing, pushing, quashing, ravishing, refreshing, rehashing, rushing, slashing, sloshing, smashing, splashing, squashing, stashing, tarnishing, thrashing, trashing, unleashing, washing, wishing. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "d-g-g-h-i-i-i-i-n-n-s-s-t-u" | |
-3 letters: distinguish. | |
-4 letters: disguising, disgusting, disuniting, unsighting. | |
-5 letters: histidins, insisting, sightings. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)44 69 73 74 69 6E 67 75 69 73 68 69 6E 67 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references)-.. .. ... - .. -. --. ..- .. ... .... .. -. --. |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01000100 01101001 01110011 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 01110101 01101001 01110011 01101000 01101001 01101110 01100111 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)D i s t i n g u i s h i n g |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0044 0069 0073 0074 0069 006E 0067 0075 0069 0073 0068 0069 006E 0067 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)3875858675807387758574758073 |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Quotations: Familiar 8. Quotations: Historic | 9. Quotations: Fiction 10. Quotations: Non-fiction 11. Quotations: Speeches 12. Usage Frequency | 13. Expressions 14. Expressions: Internet 15. Translations: Modern 16. Derivations | 17. Rhymes 18. Anagrams 19. Orthography 20. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
