Definition of Contrast

1. Noun. The opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared. "By contrast"

Exact synonyms: Direct Contrast
Generic synonyms: Oppositeness, Opposition

2. Verb. Put in opposition to show or emphasize differences. "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"

3. Noun. The act of distinguishing by comparing differences.
Generic synonyms: Comparing, Comparison

4. Verb. To show differences when compared; be different. "The students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
Exact synonyms: Counterpoint
Generic synonyms: Differ
Specialized synonyms: Counterbalance, Oppose, Conflict, Foil
Derivative terms: Contrastive, Contrastive

5. Noun. A conceptual separation or distinction. "There is a narrow line between sanity and insanity"
Exact synonyms: Demarcation, Dividing Line, Line
Generic synonyms: Differentiation, Distinction
Specialized synonyms: Point Of No Return, Rubicon
Derivative terms: Demarcate

6. Noun. The perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors.
Generic synonyms: Beholding, Seeing, Visual Perception

7. Noun. 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).
Category relationships: Photography, Picture Taking
Generic synonyms: Ambit, Compass, Orbit, Range, Reach, Scope
Derivative terms: Contrasty

Definition of Contrast

1. v. i. To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities.


3. n. The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities.

Definition of Contrast

1. Noun. A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable. ¹

2. Noun. The degree of this difference. ¹

3. Noun. A difference between two objects, people or concepts. ¹

4. Noun. A control on a television, etc, that adjusts the amount of contrast in the images being displayed. ¹

5. Noun. (countable uncountable rhetoric) Antithesis. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To form a contrast. ¹

¹ Source:

Definition of Contrast

1. to place in opposition to set off differences [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Contrast


Contrast Pictures


Lexicographical Neighbors of Contrast

contrary to
contrary to fact
contrast (current term)
contrast agent
contrast bath
contrast echocardiography
contrast enema
contrast enhancement
contrast material
contrast media
contrast medium
contrast ratio
contrast sensitivity
contrast set
contrast stain
contrast transfer function

Literary usage of Contrast


"The contrast color will appear on the gray paper. If thin tissue paper is used, more than one thickness may be needed for the best result. ..."

"Measurement of Colour produced by contrast." By Captain W. DE W. ABNEY. ... It is usually stated that the contrast colour produced on a white surface by an ..."

3. Representative American Plays by Arthur Hobson Quinn (1917)
"THE contrast The contrast is the second play written by an American, ... It is our first comedy, and while its central theme is the contrast between native ..."

4. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1898)
"Helmholtz has a theory of direction-contrast, ... The only legitimate application of the principle of contrast is in those cases, well illustrated by the ..."

5. The Journal of Physiology by Physiological Society (Great Britain). (1896)
"Influence of simultaneous contrast on " flicker " of Visual Sensation. By CS SHERRINGTON. It was demonstrated upon a number of rotating discs that the ..."

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