{ "term": "difference", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which somebody/something has changed", "sensetop": "difference between A and Bdifference in somethingdifference among somethingdespite differences", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Americans and Brits speak the same language, but there are **big** cultural **differences**." }, { "text": "There are no **significant differences** between the education systems of the two countries.", "contextForm": "difference between A and B" }, { "text": "He was studying the **similarities and differences** between humans and animals." }, { "text": "I can never **tell the difference** *(= distinguish)* between the twins." }, { "text": "There's no difference in the results.", "contextForm": "difference in something" }, { "text": "There is a **fundamental difference** in approach to conservation in Japan." }, { "text": "She noticed a **marked difference** in the children on her second visit." }, { "text": "Her work questions notions of gender difference." }, { "text": "**What a difference!** You look great with your hair like that." }, { "text": "Differences among beetle species may prove to be a key factor.", "contextForm": "difference among something" }, { "text": "Despite their differences, the two are great friends.", "contextForm": "despite differences" }, { "text": "Can you spot the difference between these two photos?" }, { "text": "Customers can see the difference in quality." }, { "text": "He was very aware of his difference from the other children." }, { "text": "I noticed a real difference in his attitude." }, { "text": "It's difficult to tell the difference between butterflies and moths." }, { "text": "One tiny mistake when you're climbing could mean the difference between life and death." }, { "text": "Only an expert would know the difference between the male and the female." }, { "text": "Our different attitudes to life reflect the differences in our backgrounds." }, { "text": "The difference lies in the way the fruit is prepared." }, { "text": "The difference with this information service is that it's free." }, { "text": "The differences in size arise from the amount of sunshine each plant gets." }, { "text": "The questionnaire showed vast differences in what kind of product people want." }, { "text": "The study explores the differences between the way girls and boys talk." }, { "text": "There are few important policy differences among the main parties." }, { "text": "There is a striking difference between eastern and western Europe." }, { "text": "There is one key difference with the earlier version of the software." }, { "text": "There's a big difference between reading about skiing and doing it yourself." }, { "text": "There's all the difference in the world between choosing to do something and being forced to do it." }, { "text": "There's not much difference between baseball and softball." }, { "text": "We found no significant difference between the two groups." }, { "text": "We should be focusing on what we have in common rather than emphasizing our differences." }, { "text": "a crucial difference of emphasis" } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["big", "broad", "considerable"], "verb + difference": ["make", "mean", "emphasize"], "difference + verb": ["be", "lie", "arise (from something)"], "preposition": [ "difference among", "difference between", "difference from" ], "phrases": [ "a… with a difference", "all the difference in the world", "a great deal of difference" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "the amount that something is greater or smaller than something else", "sensetop": "difference in somethingdifference between A and Bdifference in something between A and B", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "We measured the difference in temperature.", "contextForm": "difference in something" }, { "text": "The difference between the two numbers gives you the profit.", "contextForm": "difference between A and B" }, { "text": "There's an age difference of six years between the boys *(= one is six years older than the other)*." }, { "text": "There is not much difference in price between the two brands.", "contextForm": "difference in something between A and B" }, { "text": "I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference *(= the rest of the money that you need)*." }, { "text": "He didn't have enough money, but his aunt agreed to make up the difference." }, { "text": "He sold the car for more than he'd paid and pocketed the difference." }, { "text": "I found very little difference in size." }, { "text": "If you decide on the more expensive model, you can bring this one back and pay the difference." }, { "text": "The difference in price is not very significant." }, { "text": "What's the time difference between London and Tokyo?" }, { "text": "People disapproved of their marriage because of the age difference." } ], "collocations": { "verb + difference": ["pay", "make up", "pocket"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "a disagreement between people", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "We **have our differences**, but she's still my sister." }, { "text": "Why don't you **settle your differences** and be friends again?" }, { "text": "There was **a difference of opinion** over who had won." }, { "text": "We're going to get the two sides together to see if they can't settle their differences." }, { "text": "They have had some minor differences, but in general they get on well together." }, { "text": "Differences may arise when the young people do not have the same expectations as their parents." }, { "text": "She and Luke had a difference of opinion over how much money they should spend." }, { "text": "Although the talks were generally successful, differences remain between the groups." }, { "text": "Like any married couple, we have our differences." }, { "text": "There were some differences as to how to deal with the crisis." }, { "text": "These talks aim to resolve the outstanding differences between the two sides." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["irreconcilable", "major", "serious"], "verb + difference": ["have", "make up", "patch up"], "difference + verb": ["arise", "emerge", "occur"], "preposition": ["difference as to", "difference over"], "phrases": ["a difference of opinion", "have your differences"] } }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to stop not being friendly and become friends again", "examples": [ { "text": "After not speaking to each other for years, the two brothers decided to bury the hatchet." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a point that somebody wants to suggest is a difference when in fact it is not different at all", "examples": [ { "text": "His government did not brand them terrorists, but rather ‘an entity that supports terrorism’. That may prove to be a distinction without a difference." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to have an important effect on somebody/something; to make somebody feel better", "examples": [ { "text": "A few kind words at the right time make all the difference." }, { "text": "Just five minutes' exercise a day could make all the difference." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to have an effect/no effect on somebody/something", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The rain didn't make much difference to the game." }, { "text": "Your age shouldn't make any difference to whether you get the job or not." }, { "text": "Changing schools **made a big difference** to my life." }, { "text": "What difference will it make if he knows or not?" }, { "text": "I don't think it **makes a lot of difference** what colour it is *(= it is not important)*." }, { "text": "‘Shall we go on Friday or Saturday?’ ‘It makes no difference (to me).’" }, { "text": "The extra money will make a lot of difference to us." }, { "text": "What difference does it make if he doesn't have a car?" }, { "text": "A small number of additional jobs can make a crucial difference to economic conditions." }, { "text": "The new central heating has made an enormous difference to the house." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that you think the differences between two things are not important", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘That's not a xylophone, it's a glockenspiel.’ ‘Same difference.’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to agree to forget about your disagreements", "examples": [ { "text": "We need to sink our differences and present a united opposition to the plan." } ], "topics": ["Discussion and agreement"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(when discussing a price, etc.) to agree on an amount that is at an equal distance between the two amounts that have been suggested", "labels": "(figurative)", "examples": [ { "text": "I offered €200 but he wanted €300. In the end, we split the difference and I paid him €250." }, { "text": "I wanted to leave early and Ian wanted to leave late, so we split the difference and left at noon." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to show that something is interesting or unusual", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The traditional backpack with a difference—it's waterproof." }, { "text": "If you want a holiday with a difference, come to Iceland." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to emphasize how much difference there is between two things", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "There's a world of difference between liking someone and loving them." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪfrəns/", "audio": "di/difference/difference__gb_4.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈdɪfrəns/", "audio": "di/difference/difference__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: via Old French from Latin differentia ‘difference’, from different- ‘carrying away’, from the verb differre, from dis- ‘from, away’ + ferre ‘bring, carry’." }