to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc., of: Contrast the political rights of Romans and Greeks.
verb (used without object)
to exhibit unlikeness on comparison with something else; form a contrast.
Linguistics. to differ in a way that can serve to distinguish meanings: The sounds (p) and (b) contrast in the words “pin” and “bin.”
noun
the act of contrasting; the state of being contrasted.
a striking exhibition of unlikeness.
a person or thing that is strikingly unlike in comparison: The weather down here is a welcome contrast to what we're having back home.
opposition or juxtaposition of different forms, lines, or colors in a work of art to intensify each element's properties and produce a more dynamic expressiveness.
Photography. the relative difference between light and dark areas of a print or negative.
Television. the brightness ratio of the lightest to the darkest part of the television screen image.
Linguistics. a difference between linguistic elements, especially sounds, that can serve to distinguish meanings.
Origin of contrast
1480–90; (verb) from Middle French contraster, from Italian contrastare “to contest,” from Latin contrā- contra-1 + stāre stand; (noun) earlier contraste, from French, from Italian contrasto “conflict,” derivative of contrastare
By contrast, no song from SSA has ever hit the 300 million mark.
The Biggest Challenge for Apple and Spotify in North Africa: YouTube|Eromo Egbejule|September 17, 2020|Ozy
Inhibited children, in contrast, avoided chances to make friends in new situations and to stand out academically or socially in school.
‘The Origins of You’ explores how kids develop into their adult selves|Bruce Bower|September 16, 2020|Science News
By contrast, the “deoptimized” coronavirus has several hundred genetic changes.
Synthetic biologists have created a slow-growing version of the coronavirus to give as a vaccine|David Rotman|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
In contrast, Biden did not travel Tuesday to South Florida, where there are signs he is struggling with the Cuban American community.
Biden visits Florida as Democrats worry about his standing in the state|Sean Sullivan|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
By contrast, our death rate is roughly 58 per 100,000 Americans, more than five times Germany’s per capita toll.
America Is About to Lose Its 200,000th Life to Coronavirus. How Many More Have to Die?|by Stephen Engelberg|September 14, 2020|ProPublica
In contrast, Boehner's leadership team filed into his ceremonial office and greeted the teary newly-elected Speaker with hugs.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
By contrast, John McCain, the eventual GOP nominee, had raised approximately $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2007 alone.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In contrast to Paul, Huckabee has never palled around with Al Sharpton.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
By contrast, a gun will allow a pilot to attack hostile forces that are less than 300 feet from friendly ground forces.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By contrast, Solomon can tell us a great deal about what really changed the country—because at key moments, he was there.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality|E.J. Graff|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The English minsters are long, narrow and low in contrast with the greater squareness and height of French contemporary churches.
The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustration, vol. 06, No. 12, December 1900|Various
Now, the fun had grown more boisterous, or so it appeared to me in contrast with the quiet we had left.
Women's Wild Oats|C. Gasquoine Hartley
In early manhood he presented a contrast to his companions because he felt no attraction to the female sex.
History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz
I want you to notice the contrast, and that is why I have mentioned these instances of what I may call his animal bravery.
Amos Huntingdon|T.P. Wilson
Many women students have this idea; they do not realize that power comes from contrast.
Piano Mastery|Harriette Brower
British Dictionary definitions for contrast
contrast
verb (kənˈtrɑːst)
(often foll by with)to distinguish or be distinguished by comparison of unlike or opposite qualities
noun (ˈkɒntrɑːst)
distinction or emphasis of difference by comparison of opposite or dissimilar things, qualities, etc (esp in the phrases by contrast, in contrast toorwith)
a person or thing showing notable differences when compared with another
(in painting) the effect of the juxtaposition of different colours, tones, etc
(of a photographic emulsion) the degree of density measured against exposure used
the extent to which adjacent areas of an optical image, esp on a television screen or in a photographic negative or print, differ in brightness
psycholthe phenomenon that when two different but related stimuli are presented close together in space and/or time they are perceived as being more different than they really are
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