contrast

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Derived terms 1.4.2 Translations 1.5 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From French contraster, from Italian contrastare (“‘to resist", "to withstand’”), from Vulgar Latin, from Latin contra (“‘against’”) + stare (“‘to stand’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (noun)

  (UK) IPA: /ˈkɒntrɑːst/, SAMPA: /"kQntrA:st/

  (US) enPR: kŏn'trăst, IPA: /ˈkɑntræst/, SAMPA: /"kAntr{st/

 Audio (US)^{help, file}

• (verb)

  (UK) IPA: /kənˈtrɑːst/, SAMPA: /k@n"trA:st/

  (US) enPR: kəntrăst', kŏn'trăst, IPA: /kənˈtræst/, /ˈkɑntræst/, SAMPA: /k@n"tr{st/, /"kAntr{st/

• Rhymes: -ɑːst

[edit] Noun

contrast (countable and uncountable; plural contrasts)

1. (countable) A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.
2. (uncountable) The degree of this difference.

   The red and the orange don't have much contrast between them — I can hardly tell them apart.

3. (countable) A difference between two objects, people or concepts.

   Israel is a country of many contrasts.

4. (countable) A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to contrast (third-person singular simple present contrasts, present participle contrasting, simple past and past participle contrasted)

1. (transitive) To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.
2. (intransitive) To form a contrast.

   Foreground and background strongly contrast.

[edit] Derived terms

• contrasting

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• compare