distinguir

v.

1 to distinguish.

¿tú distingues estas dos camisas? can you tell the difference between these two shirts?

me es imposible distinguirlos I can't tell them apart

distinguir algo de algo to tell something from something

Ella distingue los colores She distinguishes the colors.

Ella distingue a los gemelos She distinguishes the twins.

El rector distinguió al profesor The rector distinguished the professor.

Ella distinguió She distinguished.

2 to distinguish, to characterize.

distinguir algo/a alguien de to distinguish something/somebody from, to set something/somebody apart from

3 to honor.

hoy nos distingue con su presencia Don… today we are honored to have with us Mr…

4 to make out.

¿distingues algo? can you see anything?, can you make anything out? (al mirar)

5 to differentiate, to know the difference.

* * *

DISTINGUIR

CONJUGACIÓN

(gu changes to g before a and o)

Present Indicative

distingo, distingues, distingue, distinguimos, distinguís, distinguen.

Present Subjunctive

distinga, distingas, distinga, distingamos, distingáis, distingan.

Imperative

distingue (tú), distinga (él/Vd.), distingamos (nos.), distinguid (vos.), distingan (ellos/Vds.).

* * *

verb

1) to differentiate, distinguish

2) honor

* * *

1. VT

1) (=diferenciar)

a) (=ver la diferencia entre) to distinguish

no distingo bien los colores — I can't distinguish the colours very well

no resulta fácil distinguir a los mellizos — it is not easy to tell the twins apart, it's not easy to distinguish between the twins

he puesto una etiqueta en la maleta para distinguirla — I've put a label on the suitcase to be able to tell it apart from o distinguish it from the others

lo sabría distinguir entre un millón — I would know it o recognize it anywhere

¿sabes distinguir un violín de una viola? — can you tell o distinguish a violin from a viola?

- no distingue lo blanco de lo negro

b) (=hacer diferente) to set apart

lo distingue su capacidad intelectual — his intellect sets him apart

lo que nos distingue de los animales — what distinguishes us from the animals, what sets us apart from the animals

c) (=hacer una distinción entre) to distinguish

hay que distinguir dos períodos — we need to distinguish two periods

2) (=ver) [+ objeto, sonido] to make out

no podía distinguir la matrícula — I couldn't make out the number plate

ya distingo la costa — I can see o make out the coast now

3) (=honrar) [+ amigo, alumno] to honour, honor (EEUU)

me distingue con su amistad — I am honoured to have his friendship

lo distinguieron con el Premio Nobel — he was honoured with the Nobel Prize

4) (=elegir) to single out

lo distinguieron para el ascenso — he was singled out for promotion

2.

VI (=ver la diferencia) to tell the difference (entre between)

(=hacer una distinción) to make a distinction (entre between)

lo mismo le da un vino malo que uno bueno, no distingue — it's all the same to him whether it's a bad wine or a good one, he can't tell the difference

no era capaz de distinguir entre lo bueno y lo malo — he couldn't tell the difference o distinguish between good and bad

es un hombre que sabe distinguir — he is a discerning person

en su discurso, distinguió entre el viejo y el nuevo liberalismo — in his speech he made a distinction between the old and the new liberalism

3.

See:

distinguirse

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) (diferenciar) to distinguish

distinguir una cosa de otra — to tell o distinguish one thing from another

es muy difícil distinguirlos — it's very difficult to tell them apart o to tell one from the other

b) (caracterizar) to characterize

2) (percibir) to make out

a lo lejos se distingue la catedral — the cathedral can be seen in the distance

se distinguía claramente el ruido de las olas — we/he/they could clearly make out the sound of the waves

3) (con medalla, honor) to honor*

2.

distinguirse v pron (destacarse)

distinguirse por algo: se distinguió por su valentía he distinguished himself by his bravery; nuestros productos se distinguen por su calidad our products are distinguished by their quality; distinguirse en algo — to distinguish oneself in something

* * *

= delineate, discern, distinguish, draw + distinction, segregate, sift, single out, sort out + Nombre + from + Nombre, mark out, tell + apart, set + Nombre + apart, tease apart, decouple, discern, make out.

Ex. PRECIS relies upon citation order (sometimes with the support of prepositions) to record syntactical relationships, and to delineate two similar subjects.

Ex. Such variations also make it difficult for a cataloguer inserting a new heading for local use to discern the principles which should be heeded in the construction of such a heading.

Ex. In order to distinguish between all these subjects it is inevitable that longer notations are used.

Ex. You have failed to draw the correct distinction between a discipline and a phenomenon studied by a discipline.

Ex. In summary, the advantages of the electronic catalog is the ability to segregate the fast searches from the slowest.

Ex. Thus many non-relevant documents have been retrieved and examined in the process of sifting relevant and non-relevant documents.

Ex. Conference proceedings are singled out for special attention because they are an important category of material in relation to abstracting and indexing publications.

Ex. Ward's study is likely to remain a standard reference source for years to come, but trying to sort out the generalities from the particularities is a very difficult business.

Ex. To infuse into that basic form an element of linguistic liveliness and wit, which marks out the best adult reviewers, is to ask far more than most children can hope to achieve.

Ex. No two paper moulds of the hand-press period were ever precisely identical, and individual moulds can be identified by their paper images; even the two moulds of a pair, which were deliberately made to look alike, can be told apart by the paper made in them.

Ex. What sets them apart is, primarily, the commercial considerations that directly affect the publishers' gatekeeper role but only indirectly affect that of the librarians.

Ex. The author and his colleagues embarked on a series of studies to tease apart hereditary and environmental factors thought to be implicated in schizophrenia.

Ex. The physical library will probably become less viable over time and so it is important to decouple the information professional from the library unit.

Ex. Such variations also make it difficult for a cataloguer inserting a new heading for local use to discern the principles which should be heeded in the construction of such a heading.

Ex. She could just make out that he was standing against the wall near the door, ready to jump anyone who came out the door.

----

* distinguir a + Nombre + de + Nombre = mark out + Nombre + from + Nombre.

* distinguir de = mark + Nombre + off from.

* distinguir entre ... y ... = draw + the line between ... and ..., make + distinction between ... and ..., discern + Nombre + from + Nombre.

* distinguirse = make + Posesivo + mark, be distinguishable.

* no distinguir entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* que distingue entre mayúscula y minúscula = case-sensitive.

* que no ayuda a distinguir = nondistinctive.

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) (diferenciar) to distinguish

distinguir una cosa de otra — to tell o distinguish one thing from another

es muy difícil distinguirlos — it's very difficult to tell them apart o to tell one from the other

b) (caracterizar) to characterize

2) (percibir) to make out

a lo lejos se distingue la catedral — the cathedral can be seen in the distance

se distinguía claramente el ruido de las olas — we/he/they could clearly make out the sound of the waves

3) (con medalla, honor) to honor*

2.

distinguirse v pron (destacarse)

distinguirse por algo: se distinguió por su valentía he distinguished himself by his bravery; nuestros productos se distinguen por su calidad our products are distinguished by their quality; distinguirse en algo — to distinguish oneself in something

* * *

= delineate, discern, distinguish, draw + distinction, segregate, sift, single out, sort out + Nombre + from + Nombre, mark out, tell + apart, set + Nombre + apart, tease apart, decouple, discern, make out.

Ex: PRECIS relies upon citation order (sometimes with the support of prepositions) to record syntactical relationships, and to delineate two similar subjects.

Ex: Such variations also make it difficult for a cataloguer inserting a new heading for local use to discern the principles which should be heeded in the construction of such a heading.

Ex: In order to distinguish between all these subjects it is inevitable that longer notations are used.

Ex: You have failed to draw the correct distinction between a discipline and a phenomenon studied by a discipline.

Ex: In summary, the advantages of the electronic catalog is the ability to segregate the fast searches from the slowest.

Ex: Thus many non-relevant documents have been retrieved and examined in the process of sifting relevant and non-relevant documents.

Ex: Conference proceedings are singled out for special attention because they are an important category of material in relation to abstracting and indexing publications.

Ex: Ward's study is likely to remain a standard reference source for years to come, but trying to sort out the generalities from the particularities is a very difficult business.

Ex: To infuse into that basic form an element of linguistic liveliness and wit, which marks out the best adult reviewers, is to ask far more than most children can hope to achieve.

Ex: No two paper moulds of the hand-press period were ever precisely identical, and individual moulds can be identified by their paper images; even the two moulds of a pair, which were deliberately made to look alike, can be told apart by the paper made in them.

Ex: What sets them apart is, primarily, the commercial considerations that directly affect the publishers' gatekeeper role but only indirectly affect that of the librarians.

Ex: The author and his colleagues embarked on a series of studies to tease apart hereditary and environmental factors thought to be implicated in schizophrenia.

Ex: The physical library will probably become less viable over time and so it is important to decouple the information professional from the library unit.

Ex: Such variations also make it difficult for a cataloguer inserting a new heading for local use to discern the principles which should be heeded in the construction of such a heading.

Ex: She could just make out that he was standing against the wall near the door, ready to jump anyone who came out the door.

* distinguir a + Nombre + de + Nombre = mark out + Nombre + from + Nombre.

* distinguir de = mark + Nombre + off from.

* distinguir entre ... y ... = draw + the line between ... and ..., make + distinction between ... and ..., discern + Nombre + from + Nombre.

* distinguirse = make + Posesivo + mark, be distinguishable.

* no distinguir entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* que distingue entre mayúscula y minúscula = case-sensitive.

* que no ayuda a distinguir = nondistinctive.

* * *

distinguir [I2 ]

vt

A

1 (diferenciar) to distinguish

no sabe distinguir una nota de otra she can't tell o distinguish one note from another

he aprendido a distinguir los diferentes compositores I've learnt to distinguish (between) o recognize the different composers

son tan parecidos que es muy difícil distinguirlos they look so much alike it's very difficult to tell them apart o to tell one from the other o to distinguish between them

yo la distinguiría entre mil I'd recognize o know her anywhere, I could pick her out in a crowd

2 (caracterizar) to characterize

B (percibir) to make out

a lo lejos se distingue la catedral the cathedral can be seen in the distance

entre los matorrales pudo distinguir algo que se movía she could make out o see something moving in the bushes

se distinguía claramente el ruido de las olas the sound of the waves could be clearly heard, we/he/they could clearly hear o make out the sound of the waves

C (con una medalla, un honor) to honor*

los distinguió con su presencia (frml); she honored them with her presence (frml)

■ distinguir

vi

(discernir): hay que saber distinguir para apreciar la diferencia you have to be discerning to appreciate the difference

■ distinguirse

v pron

(destacarse) distinguirse POR algo:

se distinguió por su talento musical he became famous o renowned for his musical talent

se distinguió por su valor en el combate he distinguished himself by his bravery in battle

nuestros productos se distinguen por su calidad our products stand out for their quality, our products are distinguished by o for their quality

distinguirse EN algo to distinguish oneself IN sth, to make a name for oneself IN sth

* * *

 

distinguir (conjugate distinguir) verbo transitivo
1

a) (diferenciar) to distinguish

b) (caracterizar) to characterize

2 (percibir) ‹figura/sonido› to make out
3 (con medalla, honor) to honor^{(conjugate honor)}
distinguirse verbo pronominal (destacarse): distinguirse por algo [persona] to distinguish oneself by sth;
[producto] to be distinguished by sth
distinguir verbo transitivo
1 (reconocer) to recognize
2 (apreciar la diferencia) to distinguish: no soy capaz de distinguir a Juan de su hermano gemelo, I can't tell Juan from his twin brother
3 (conferir un privilegio, honor) to honour, US honor
4 (verse, apreciarse) to make out
'distinguir' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
discriminar
- caracterizar
English:
differentiate
- discern
- distinction
- distinguish
- make out
- pick out
- separate
- single out
- tell
- tell apart
- define
- discriminate
- know
- make
- mark
- pick
- right
- set

* * *

distinguir

♦ vt

1. [diferenciar] to distinguish, to tell the difference between;

¿tú distingues estas dos camisas? can you tell the difference between these two shirts?;

me es imposible distinguirlos I can't tell them apart;

Kant distingue varios tipos de “razón” Kant distinguishes between several kinds of “reason”;

distinguir algo de algo to tell sth from sth;

por teléfono no distingo tu voz de la de tu madre I can't tell your voice from your mother's on the telephone;

no distinguen el verde del azul they can't tell green from blue

2. [caracterizar] to distinguish, to characterize;

distinguir algo/a alguien de to distinguish sth/sb from, to set sth/sb apart from;

esto lo distingue del resto de los mamíferos this distinguishes it from other mammals;

¿qué es lo que distingue a un gorila? what are the main characteristics of a gorilla?;

el grado de adherencia distingue los diversos tipos de neumático the different types of tyre are distinguished by their road-holding capacity;

su amabilidad la distingue de las demás her kindness sets her apart from the rest

3. [premiar] to honour;

ha sido distinguido con numerosos premios he has been honoured with numerous prizes;

hoy nos distingue con su presencia Don… today we are honoured to have with us Mr…

4. [vislumbrar, escuchar] to make out;

¿distingues algo? [al mirar] can you see anything?, can you make anything out?;

desde aquí no distingo si es ella o no I can't see if it's her or not from here;

podía distinguir su voz I could make out her voice

♦ vi

to differentiate, to know the difference (entre between);

el público distingue entre un buen y un mal tenor the audience can tell o knows the difference between a good and a bad tenor;

estudiando mucho uno aprende a distinguir after a lot of study one learns how to discriminate

♦ See also the pronominal verb distinguirse

* * *

distinguir

v/t

1 distinguish (de from)

2 (divisar) make out;

distinguir algo lejano make out sth in the distance

3 con un premio honor, Br

honour

* * *

distinguir {26} vt

1) : to distinguish

2) : to honor

♦ See also the reflexive verb distinguirse

* * *

distinguir vb

1. (diferenciar) to distinguish / to tell the difference [pt. & pp. told]

no sabe distinguir un mulo de un asno he can't tell the difference between a mule and an ass

los gemelos son difíciles de distinguir the twins are hard to tell apart / it's hard to tell the twins apart

2. (ver) to make out / to see [pt. saw; pp. seen]

no distingo el camino I can't see the path