/'dɪfrəns; `dɪfrəns/
n
1 [C] ~ (between A and B); ~ (in/of sth) state or way in which two people or things are not the same, or in which sb/sth has changed 差别; 差异; 不同之处; 变化; 变化之处
*the marked differences between the two children 两个孩子之间的显着差别
* Did you notice a difference (in her)? 你注意到（她）有什么变化吗?
* It's easy to tell the difference (ie distinguish) between butter and margarine. 区别黄油和人造黄油是很容易的.
* a difference of approach 方法的不同.
2 [C, U] ~ (in sth) (between A and B) amount or degree in which two things are not the same or sth has changed 差距; 差额; 变化程度
*There's an age difference of six years between them, ie One of them is six years older than the other. 他们俩相差六岁.
* I'll lend you 90% of the money and you'll have to find the difference, ie the other 10%. 我借给你这笔钱的90%, 其余的（10%）你自己解决.
* We measured the difference(s) in temperature. 我们测量了温度的变化.
* There's not much difference in price between the two computers. 这两种计算机价格没多大差别.
3 [C] ~ (between A and B) (over sth) disagreement, often involving a quarrel 意见不合, 争执（常引起争吵者）
*Settle your differences and be friends again. 你们消除分歧, 言归于好罢.
* We had a difference of opinion (ie argued) over who had won. 我们在究竟是谁获胜的问题上发生了争执.
4 (idm 习语) as near as makes no difference => near2. for all the `difference it/sth makes considering how little difference it/sth makes 鉴于那事物[某事物]作用甚微; 尽管有所差别. make a, no, some, etc difference (to sb/sth)
(a) have an, no, some, etc effect (on sb/sth) （对某人[某事物]）有、没有、有些...作用或影响
*The rain didn't make much difference (to the game). 这场雨（对比赛）没多大影响.
* The sea air has made a difference to (ie improved) her health. 海上的空气改善了她的健康状况.
* A hot bath makes all the difference (ie makes you feel better) in the morning. 上午洗个热水澡能让人精神振奋.
(b) be important, unimportant, etc (to sb/sth); matter （对某人[某事物]）重要、不重要等; 要紧、不要紧等
*It makes no difference (to me) what you say
*I'm not going. 不管你怎么说（对我来说）都无所谓, 反正我不去.
* It won't make much difference whether you go today or tomorrow. 你今天去也好, 明天去也好, 关系不大.
* Does that make any difference? ie Is it important, need we consider it? 那要紧吗?
* Yes, it makes all the difference, ie is very important. 是的, 非常重要. make a difference between treat differently 区别对待; 不同样对待
*She makes no difference between her two sons. 她对两个儿子一视同仁. sink one's differences => sink1. split the difference => split. with a `difference (following ns 用于名词之後) special; unusual 特别的; 与众不同的
*She's an opera singer with a difference
*she can act well! 她这个歌剧演唱家与众不同, 因为她还擅长表演!

n
[U and C]
a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other
≠ similaritydifference between
　The main difference between the groups was age.
　There's a big difference between knowing that something is true, and being able to prove it.
difference in
　Researchers found a number of important differences in the way boys and girls learn.
　subtle differences in meaning
　There was a marked difference in his behavior toward me.
　There was certainly no difference between them in terms of intelligence.
　There is very little difference between the parties on green issues.
　There's a world of difference between us.
　Do children know the difference between right and wrong?
　See if you can spot the difference between these two pictures.
　Class differences still play an important role in society.
[singular, U]
the amount by which one thing is greater or smaller than another
difference in age/size etc
　There's not much difference in price.
　There's a five-hour time difference between London and New York.
→split the differenceatsplit¹ (9)
make a/the difference
to have an important effect or influence on something or someone
　Whatever she did, it made no difference.
make a/the difference to
　One more person wouldn't make any difference to the arrangements.
make a/the difference between
　It could make the difference between missing your train and getting to work on time.
　Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence) .
it makes no difference to sb
used to say that it does not matter to someone which thing happens, is chosen etc
　Morning or afternoon. It makes no difference to me.
our/your/their differences
disagreements
　We've had our differences in the past, but we get on OK now.
settle/resolve your differences
(=agree not to argue any more)
difference of opinion
a slight disagreement
　There have been some differences of opinion as to exactly how the money should be spent.
with a differenceinformal
used to describe something which is interesting or unusual, especially in a good way
　an adventure holiday with a difference

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COLLOCATES for sense 1
big/major/important/significant difference
small/minor difference
subtle difference (=not obvious)
marked difference (=very noticeable)
there's no difference (=they are the same)
there's very little difference (=they are very similar)
there's a world of difference (=they are very different)
know/can tell the difference (=be able to recognize the difference)
spot the difference (=notice the difference)

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