difference

dif|fer|ence [ `dıf(ə)rəns ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount something that makes one thing or person not the same as another thing or person:

cultural/social/political differences

difference between: What's the difference between these two computers?

difference in: There's a big difference in the attitudes of town and country people.

significant/marked/major difference: the significant difference in sound quality between CDs and records

slight/subtle/minor differences: There are subtle differences in their arrangement of the music.

crucial/essential/fundamental difference: The fundamental difference between John and Jake is their attitudes to money.

─ opposite SIMILARITY

2. ) count usually singular the amount by which one thing is different from another thing:

The same car costs $500 less here which is quite a difference!

age/price/temperature difference: Despite this age difference, they fell in love.

a world of difference (=a very big difference): There's a world of difference between liking someone and wanting to marry them.

3. ) differences plural disagreements about something:

trying to smooth out differences between them

have your differences: Joe and I have had our differences, but we work well together.

resolve/settle your differences: The two parties agreed to settle their differences.

irreconcilable differences (=disagreements that cannot be settled): Journalists were told the talks had broken down because of irreconcilable differences.

difference of opinion

a disagreement about something:

We had a slight difference of opinion over the design.

make a difference

1. ) to have an important effect on something, especially a good effect:

make a difference to: This scheme will certainly make a difference to the way I do my job.

2. ) something that makes a lot of difference has a good effect on a person or situation:

make a big/a great deal of/a lot of difference: The fact that I can now organize my own time makes a big difference.

make all the difference (to someone): Having someone to talk to made all the difference to my mother.

make no/little difference

to not be important or not have any effect:

Anybody can enjoy yoga, and your age makes absolutely no difference.

make no/little difference to: The news made little difference to his plans.

tell the difference

1. ) to notice what is different between similar people or things:

tell the difference between: How do you tell the difference between the kittens?

2. ) to notice what has changed about someone or something:

She said she'd had her hair cut, but I couldn't tell the difference.

with a difference

used for saying that something is more interesting or unusual than other similar things:

It was a wedding with a difference the bride wore black!