contrast

1 the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; "in contrast to", "by contrast" [syn: direct contrast]

2 the act of distinguishing by comparing differences

3 a conceptual separation or demarcation; "there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity" [syn: line, dividing line, demarcation]

4 the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors

5 the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)

1 put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"

2 to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities" [syn: counterpoint]

English

Etymology

contraster, from contrastare, to resist, to withstand

Pronunciation

• (noun):
  • (RP): /ˈkɒntrɑːst/, /"kQntrA:st/
  • (US): kŏn'trăst, /ˈkɑntræst/, /"kAntr

Contrast is the dissimilarity or difference between things. Another meaning for contrast is in the context of color. This can be the opposition of items that are compared or the act of distinguishing via differences comparison. The act of linguistics contrast is the act of expressing the distinctions between words.(It is used in the writing form compare and contrast)

• Contrast (vision), the difference in color and light between parts of an image.
  • Contrast (formula), the formula for distinguishing colors.
• Contrast (statistics)
• Contrast medium used to distinguish structures or fluids within a body, often shortened to just "contrast"
• Contrast ratio The contrast ratio is a measure of a display system.
• Contrast of electronic visual displays
• Contrast (verbal), Contrast of silence and deep loud tones]]

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