differ
nounEtymology From diff + -er.
1
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A program that diffs, a diff.
differ
verbUK /ˈdɪfə/ · US /ˈdɪfɚ/
Etymology From Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differō (“carry apart, put off, defer; differ”), from dis- (“apart”) + ferō (“carry, bear”). Compare Ancient Greek διαφέρω (diaphérō). Doublet of defer and dilate, see also infer, confer and collate, refer and relate, as well as prefer and prelate among others.
1
Not to have the same traits or characteristics; to be unalike or distinct.
- When we look to the individuals of the same variety or sub-variety of our older cultivated plants and animals, one of the first points which strikes us, is, that they generally differ much more from each other, than do the individuals of any one species or variety in a state of nature.1859, Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species:
- These shoes only differ from those ones in having slightly longer laces.
2
To be separated in quantity.
- The numbers 3 and 21 differ by 18.
3
Usually To have diverging opinions, disagree.
People; groups; people; groups
- May 11, 1827, George Canning, Changes in the Administration I differ from the honourable baronet on both these subjects
- Historical interpretation has differed over the role played by the king of Denmark and Norway in the impignoration of the islands.1969, “The Pawning of Orkney and Shetland: A Reconsideration of the Events of 1460-9”, in The Scottish Historical Review, volume 48, number 145, Edinburgh University Press, →OCLC, page 35:
- Derived terms
- agree to differ, beg to differ, your mileage may differ
- Related terms
- difference, different, differential, differentiate, differentiation, differently, indifference, indifferent, indifferently
- Hyponyms
- contrast, stand out, nonconform