[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/difference/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / difference

# difference

noun (difference, differences)

«difference» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In maths, the difference is how much bigger one number is than another; you find it by subtracting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#m1)
2. A difference is a way in which two things are not the same: spot the differences. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#m2)
3. To make a difference is to change something, often for the better. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#m3)

### In the lessons

the answer to «how many more/fewer … than» (subtract the smaller from the bigger); in class «find the difference between», «spot the difference»; in science differences between animals or materials; in everyday life «it makes no difference», «make a difference»

### Examples

- Here the word «more» does not mean adding: it asks how big the difference is. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x1)
- What is the difference between 15 and 9? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x2)
- Find the difference between Tom's 12 stickers and Ann's 7. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x3)
- The difference between 20 and 13 is 7. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x4)
- Can you spot five differences between the pictures? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x5)
- One difference between frogs and toads is their skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x6)
- Recycling makes a big difference to our planet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x7)
- Twins can look the same, but there are small differences. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/#x8)

### Note

Difference means subtract the smaller from the bigger. Trap: the word «more» in «how many more … than» asks for a difference, not a sum. Adjective «different». Check: smaller number + difference = bigger number.

## In Jewish tradition

God makes a difference between Israel and the Egyptians, and Israel must tell holy from common and clean from unclean.

**Interpretation.** Tradition calls this "havdalah", or separating, a key idea of Judaism that is also marked at the end of Shabbat.

### Examples

- And that ye may put difference between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; (Torah LEV.10.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difference/#x1)
- to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten. (Torah LEV.11.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difference/#x2)
- But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog whet his tongue, against man or beast; that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. (Torah EXO.11.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difference/#x3)
- And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. (Prophets EZK.44.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difference/#x4)

### Note

Difference means subtract the smaller from the bigger. Trap: the word «more» in «how many more … than» asks for a difference, not a sum. Adjective «different». Check: smaller number + difference = bigger number.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «difference» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difference/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«difference» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/difference.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «difference» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difference/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«difference» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/difference.html) on Mova free.