distinction
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++dis·tinc·tion /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun 1 difference 差别 [countable, uncountable]DIFFERENT a clear difference or separation between two similar things 差别，区别，不同distinction between the distinction between formal and informal language 正式与非正式语言之间的差别clear/sharp distinction There is often no clear distinction between an allergy and food intolerance. 过敏和食物不耐受之间往往没有明显的区别。make/draw a distinction The Act makes no distinction between children and adults (=it treats them as if they were the same). 这条法令对儿童和成年人同等对待。 RegisterIn written English, people often use draw a distinction rather than make a distinction, because it sounds more formal: 在书面英语中,人们常用 draw a distinction ,而不用 make a distinction ,因为前者听上去更加正式The law draws a distinction between temporary and permanent employees. 这条法律把临时雇员和长期雇员区别开来。2 excellence 卓越 [uncountable]GOOD/EXCELLENT the quality of being excellent and important 优秀，卓越，杰出 Eliot’s distinction as a poet 艾略特作为诗人的杰出才能3 being special 不寻常 [singular]IMPORTANT the quality of being special in some way 独特，不同凡响have/earn/achieve etc the distinction of doing something At that time, it had the distinction of being the largest bridge in the UK. 那时候它的独特之处在于，它是英国最大的桥梁。 The US enjoys the dubious distinction of being the lawsuit capital of the world. 美国享有世界诉讼之都的 “美名”。4 result 成绩 [countable, uncountable]SERESULT a special mark given to a student whose work is excellent 〔授予优秀学生的〕优等评分，荣誉分数with distinction He obtained a law doctorate with distinction. 他以优异的成绩取得了法律博士学位。n COLLOCATIONSverbsmake a distinction (also draw a distinction formal) (=say or show that one exists)It isn’t easy to make a distinction between these two words.blur the distinction between something and something (=make it less clear)Both sides in the war had been blurring the distinction between military and civilian targets.see a distinction (=recognize that one exists)He saw no distinction between religious beliefs and superstition.adjectivesa clear distinctionThe legal system makes a clear distinction between adults and children.a fine/subtle distinction (=small)Language enables us to make fine distinctions between similar ideas.a sharp distinction (=very clear)The president drew a sharp distinction between his party and the Republican Party.an important/crucial distinctionThere is an important distinction between these two types of cancer.a fundamental distinction (=a basic one)There is a fundamental distinction between authors and readers.a useful distinctionHe makes a useful distinction between the two theories.Examples from the Corpus
distinction• Life was hard for the peasants, especially in the conservative south, where class distinctions were pronounced.• There is a clear distinction between lawful protest and illegal strike action.• When conceptual distinctions are expressed in language they are referred to as semantic relations.• Pablo insists that he is Basque, not Spanish - an important distinction.• In addition to the main distinction based on participant roles, the person system may be organized along a variety of other dimensions.• a poet of distinction• The plan would introduce a single class of bearer shares, abolishing the distinction between registered and bearer shares.• Perhaps the neatest way of expressing the distinction is to contrast unilateral and cooperative procedures.• To many, the distinction between rote memorization and understanding is unclear and leads to confused teaching and learning.• One of the few notions from game theory to penetrate the popular culture was the distinction of zero-sum and nonzero-sum games.• The distinctions between the three cell types are quite subtle and may only be obvious after quite extensive testing.makes no distinction• Table 6.1 makes no distinction between different types of dementia sufferer.• The-Data Protection Act 1984 makes no distinction between adults and children.• At present, the Government makes no distinction between the two.• In an age in which we have a keen sense for the difference between fact and symbol, Wilson-Kastner makes no distinction.• The formalism of quantum mechanics makes no distinction, in this respect, between single particles and complicated systems of many particles.dubious distinction• Sarah, left alone, had the dubious distinction of being the last of all the Titfords in Frome.with distinction• He graduated with distinction in all subjects.dis·tinc·tion noun →REGISTER1 →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
separation things two Corpus or a difference between similar clear
distinction
dis‧tinc‧tion W3 AC /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
noun1. DIFFERENCE [uncountable and countable] a clear difference or separation between two similar things
distinction between
the distinction between formal and informal language
clear/sharp distinction
There is often no clear distinction between an allergy and food intolerance.
make/draw a distinction
The Act makes no distinction between children and adults (=it treats them as if they were the same).
REGISTER
In written English, people often use draw a distinction rather than make a distinction, because it sounds more formal:
▪The law draws a distinction between temporary and permanent employees.
2. EXCELLENCE [uncountable] the quality of being excellent and important:
Eliot’s distinction as a poet
3. BEING SPECIAL [singular] the quality of being special in some way
have/earn/achieve etc the distinction of doing something
At that time, it had the distinction of being the largest bridge in the UK.
The US enjoys the dubious distinction of being the lawsuit capital of the world.
4. RESULT [uncountable and countable] a special mark given to a student whose work is excellent
with distinction
He obtained a law doctorate with distinction.
■ verbs
▪make a distinction (also draw a distinction formal) (=say or show that one exists) It isn’t easy to make a distinction between these two words.
▪blur the distinction between something and something (=make it less clear) Both sides in the war had been blurring the distinction between military and civilian targets.
▪see a distinction (=recognize that one exists) He saw no distinction between religious beliefs and superstition.
■ adjectives
▪a clear distinction The legal system makes a clear distinction between adults and children.
▪a fine/subtle distinction (=small) Language enables us to make fine distinctions between similar ideas.
▪a sharp distinction (=very clear) The President drew a sharp distinction between his party and the Republican Party.
▪an important/crucial distinction There is an important distinction between these two types of cancer.
▪a fundamental distinction (=a basic one) There is a fundamental distinction between authors and readers.
▪a useful distinction He makes a useful distinction between the two theories.
dis‧tinc‧tion W3 AC /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
noun1. DIFFERENCE [uncountable and countable] a clear difference or separation between two similar thingsdistinction between
clear/sharp distinction
make/draw a distinction
REGISTER
In written English, people often use draw a distinction rather than make a distinction, because it sounds more formal:
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2. EXCELLENCE [uncountable] the quality of being excellent and important:
3. BEING SPECIAL [singular] the quality of being special in some way
have/earn/achieve etc the distinction of doing something
4. RESULT [uncountable and countable] a special mark given to a student whose work is excellent
with distinction
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