Etymology : Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between; more at DISCERN
Pronunciation : dis-'kri-m&-"nAt
Function : verb
Date : 1628
1. separate, distinguish; treat differently, show partiality. discriminate\dis*crim"i*nate\ , v. i.
2. to make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.
3. (a) to treat unequally. (b) (railroads) to impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.discriminate \dis*crim"i*nate\ , a. [l. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr. discernere. see:
discern, and cf. criminate.] having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.discriminate \dis*crim"i*nate\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. discriminated ; p. pr. & vb. n. discriminating .] to set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. to discriminate the goats from the sheep.discriminate adj.
4. marked by the ability to see:
or make fine distinctions; "discriminate judgments"; "discriminate people" [syn: discriminating] [ant: indiscriminate].
5. noting distinctions with nicety; "a discriminating interior designer"; "a nice sense of color"; "a nice point in the argument" [syn: nice] v 1: recognize or perceive the difference [syn: know apart] 2: treat differently on the basis of sex or race [syn: separate, single out].
6. distinguish; "i could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish".
7. Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.
8. To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
9. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.
10. To treat unequally.
11. To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service. recognize or perceive the difference distinguish; "I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish" treat differently on the basis of sex or race marked by the ability to see:
or make fine distinctions; "discriminate judgments"; "discriminate people" noting distinctions with nicety; "a discriminating interior designer"; "a nice sense of color"; "a nice point in the argument".
12. 1. If you can discriminate between two things, you can recognize that they are different. He is incapable of discriminating between a good idea and a terrible one.
13. To discriminate against a group of people or in favour of a group of people means to unfairly treat them worse or better than other groups. They believe the law discriminates against women. legislation which would discriminate in favour of racial minorities.