con·trast 
(k
n-tr
st
, k
ntrst
) See the pronunciation key
VERB:
con·trast·ed, con·trast·ing, con·trasts
VERB:
tr.
intr.
(kntrst)
ETYMOLOGY:
French contraster, from Italian contrastare, from Medieval Latin contr
stre : Latin contr-, contra- + Latin stre, to stand; see st- in Indo-European roots
OTHER FORMS:
con·trasta·ble(Adjective), con·trasting·ly(Adverb)
Usage Note:
The noun contrast may be followed by between, with, or to: There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works. In contrast with
(k
n-trst, kntrst) See the pronunciation key VERB:
con·trast·ed, con·trast·ing, con·trasts
VERB:
tr.
- To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences: an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.
intr.
- To show differences when compared: siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
- Linguistics To evince a difference that can distinguish meaning: Voiced and voiceless stops contrast in English but not in Cree.
(k
ntrst)- The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
- The state of being contrasted: red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
- A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared: the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
- One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another: My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
- The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
- The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
- Linguistics A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.
ETYMOLOGY:
French contraster, from Italian contrastare, from Medieval Latin contr
stre : Latin contr-, contra- + Latin stre, to stand; see st- in Indo-European rootsOTHER FORMS:
con·trast
a·ble(Adjective), con·trasting·ly(Adverb)Usage Note:
The noun contrast may be followed by between, with, or to: There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works. In contrast with
(or less frequently,
to)
his early works, the later plays are dark and forbidding. When contrast is used as a transitive verb, both with and to may follow, though with is more common: Most scholars contrast the light comedies of his early career with(or
to)
the dark comedies that were written late in his life.
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