DIFFERENTIATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does differentiation mean? 

• DIFFERENTIATION (noun)
  The noun DIFFERENTIATION has 3 senses:

1. a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

2. the mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function

3. (biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function

  Familiarity information: DIFFERENTIATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIFFERENTIATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

differentiation; distinction

Context example:

it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation

Hypernyms ("differentiation" is a kind of...):

discrimination; secernment (the cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "differentiation"):

contradistinction (a distinction drawn on the basis of contrast)

contrast; demarcation; dividing line; line (a conceptual separation or distinction)

hairsplitting; word-splitting (making too fine distinctions of little importance)

Derivation:

differentiate (become distinct and acquire a different character)

differentiate (mark as different)

differentiate (be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("differentiation" is a kind of...):

mathematical operation; mathematical process; operation ((mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods)

Derivation:

differentiate (calculate a derivative; take the derivative)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

differentiation; specialisation; specialization

Context example:

cell differentiation in the developing embryo

Hypernyms ("differentiation" is a kind of...):

adaptation; adaption; adjustment (the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions))

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Derivation:

differentiate (become different during development)

 Context examples 

This gene plays a regulatory role in transcription and is involved in male germ cell differentiation.

(AFF4 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in differentiation.

(AGR2 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes activation-induced cytidine deaminase protein, is involved in both DNA methylation and B-cell differentiation.

(AICDA wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene plays a role in biosynthesis, cell differentiation and intercellular communication.

(ALDH1A2 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in transcriptional modulation and muscle cell differentiation.

(MKL1 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by a high degree of cellular differentiation, slow growth, and diffuse infiltration of neighboring brain structures.

(Adult Diffuse Astrocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Differentiation between a small adenoma and focal hyperplasia can be very difficult.

(Adenoma of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

A malignant neoplasm that has both glandular and squamous differentiation.

(Adenosquamous Metaplastic Carcinoma of the Mouse Mammary Gland, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Tyrosinase, a melanoma-specific differentiation antigen, catalyzes the first step of melanin synthesis in melanocytes.

(Adenovirus Encoding Tyrosinase/MART-1/MAGEA6-transduced Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)

A medulloblastoma characterized by nodularity and neuronal differentiation.

(Medulloblastoma with Extensive Nodularity, NCI Thesaurus)