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# distinguish

verb (distinguish, distinguishes, distinguished, distinguishing)

«distinguish» 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. To see or understand the difference between two or more things: «distinguish between right and wrong». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#m1)
2. To be able to see, hear or notice something clearly: «I could just distinguish a shape.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#m2)
3. To be the thing that makes someone or something different: «Its long neck distinguishes the giraffe.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#m3)
4. «Distinguish yourself» means do something very well so people notice and respect you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, pupils distinguish between living and non-living things, or between mammals and reptiles. In reading, they distinguish fact from opinion. In safety lessons, they distinguish safe from unsafe situations, and real messages from scams. Phrases: «distinguish between», «distinguish A from B», «distinguishing features», «distinguish yourself».

### Examples

- Can you distinguish between a frog and a toad? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x1)
- It was too dark to distinguish the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x2)
- Learn to distinguish fact from opinion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x3)
- Its black and white fur distinguishes the panda from other bears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x4)
- She distinguished herself by winning every race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x5)
- The twins are so alike it's hard to distinguish them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x6)
- A scam email can be hard to distinguish from a real one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x7)
- ‘How am I to distinguish this awful thing when I see it?’ [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/distinguish/#x8)

### Note

Patterns: «distinguish between A and B» or «distinguish A from B». Adjective: «distinguished» (famous and respected; also looking grand). «Distinguishing features» are marks that help identify someone.

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Sefer Yetzirah teaches that good and evil are defined by each other, and that each is kept for those who suit it. In the primary lessons: In science, pupils distinguish between living and non-living things, or between mammals and reptiles. In reading, they distinguish fact from opinion. In safety lessons, they distinguish safe from unsafe situations, and real messages from scams. Phrases: «distinguish between», «distinguish A from B», «distinguishing features», «distinguish yourself».

### Examples

- Instead, the SY may be intimating a twofold pronunciation of Resh known among certain mediveal Jewish communities in Babylonia and elsewhere, which does indeed preserve a distinguish between ‘single’ Resh and ‘double’ Resh. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/distinguish/#x1)
- Goodness distinguishes evil and evil distinguishes goodness; goodness is kept for the good and evil is kept for the evil. \[6:3\] Three, but each one stands alone. 7 divided: Three opposite Three, with an edict deciding between them. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/distinguish/#x2)

### Note

Patterns: «distinguish between A and B» or «distinguish A from B». Adjective: «distinguished» (famous and respected; also looking grand). «Distinguishing features» are marks that help identify someone.

## On Mova

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