contrast (contrasts, contrasting, contrasted) VERB If you contrast one thing with another, you point out or consider the differences between those things. ■ [+ with] She contrasted the situation then with the present crisis. ■ In this section we contrast four possible broad approaches.
differ (differs, differing, differed)
VERB If two or more things differ, they are unlike each other in some way.
[+ from] The story he told police differed from the one he told his mother.
VERB If you differentiate between things or if you differentiate one thing from another, you recognize or show the difference between them. ■ [+ between] A child may not differentiate between his imagination and the real world. ■ [+ from] At this age your baby cannot differentiate one person from another.
VERB If you can distinguish one thing from another or distinguish between two things, you can see or understand how they are different. ■ [+ from] Asteroids are distinguished from meteorites in terms of their visibility. ■ [+ between] Research suggests that babies learn to see by distinguishing between areas of light and dark..
vary (varies, varying, varied)
VERB If things vary, they are different from each other in size, amount, or degree.
Assessment practices vary in different schools or colleges. ■ [+ from] The text varies from the earlier versions. ■ [V-ing] Different writers will prepare to varying degrees.
Verbs for describing similarity:
compare (compares, comparing, compared)
VERB When you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them. ■ Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60. ■ [+ with] Was it fair to compare independent schools with state schools? ■ [+ to] Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then compare it to the skin on the elbow/.