CONTRASTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contrastive mean? 

• CONTRASTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective CONTRASTIVE has 3 senses:

1. of words so related that one contrasts with the other

2. strikingly different; tending to contrast

3. syntactically establishing a relation of contrast between sentences or elements of a sentence

  Familiarity information: CONTRASTIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTRASTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of words so related that one contrasts with the other

Synonyms:

contrastive; incompatible

Context example:

'rich' and 'hard-up' are contrastive terms

Similar:

antonymous (of words: having opposite meanings)

Derivation:

contrast (to show differences when compared; be different)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Strikingly different; tending to contrast

Synonyms:

contrasting; contrastive

Context example:

contrasting (or contrastive) colors

Similar:

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

Derivation:

contrast (to show differences when compared; be different)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Syntactically establishing a relation of contrast between sentences or elements of a sentence

Context example:

disjunctive conjunctions like 'but', 'or', or 'though' serve a contrastive function

Similar:

disjunctive (serving or tending to divide or separate)

Domain category:

grammar (the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics))