[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

distinguish \distin"guish\, v. t. imp.  p. p.
   distinguished; p. pr.  vb. n. distinguishing. f.
   distinguer, l. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- +
   stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and
   so akin to g. stechen, e. stick, and perh. sting. cf.
   extinguish.
   1. not set apart from others by visible marks; to make
      distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to
      mark off by some characteristic.
      1913 webster

            not more distinguished by her purple vest,
            than by the charming features of her face. --dryden.
      1913 webster

            milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the
            eglantine.                            --nares.
      1913 webster

   2. to separate by definition of terms or logical division of
      a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish
      sounds into high and low.
      1913 webster

            moses distinguished the causes of the flood into
            those that belong to the heavens, and those that
            belong to the earth.                  --t. burnet.
      1913 webster

   3. to recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic
      quality or qualities; to know and discriminate anything
      from other things with which it might be confounded; as,
      to distinguish the sound of a drum.
      1913 webster

            we are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as
            well as truth from falsehood.         --watts.
      1913 webster

            nor more can you distinguish of a man,
            than of his outward show.             --shak.
      1913 webster

   4. to constitute a difference; to make to differ.
      1913 webster

            who distinguisheth thee?              --1 cor. iv.
                                                  7. douay
                                                  version.
      1913 webster

   5. to separate from others by a mark of honor; to make
      eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by
      or for."to distinguish themselves by means never tried
      before." --johnson.

   syn: to mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize;
        discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.
        1913 webster
see also:
distinguished distinguishing extinguish 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

distinguishing \distin"guishing\, a.
   constituting difference, or distinction from everything else;
   distinctive; peculiar; characteristic.
   1913 webster

         the distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion.
                                                  --locke.
   1913 webster

   distinguishing pennant naut., a special pennant by which
      any particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and
      signaled. --simmonds.
      1913 webster
see also:
distinguishing pennant 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

distinguishing
     adj : serving to distinguish or identify a species or group; "the
           distinguishing mark of the species is its plumage";
           "distinctive tribal tattoos"; "we were asked to
           describe any identifying marks or distinguishing
           features" syn: distinctive, identifyinga
see also:
distinctive identifyinga 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

46 moby thesaurus words for "distinguishing":
   accurate, appreciative, characteristic, characterizing,
   contrastive, critical, delicate, diacritical, diagnostic,
   differencing, differential, differentiative, discriminate,
   discriminating, discriminative, distinctive, exact, exemplary,
   fastidious, fine, idiosyncratic, individualizing, individuating,
   natural, naturalistic, nice, normal, peculiar, personalizing,
   precise, quintessential, realistic, refined, regular, sample,
   selective, sensitive, separative, subtle, tactful, true to form,
   true to type, typal, typic, typical, usual

Distinguishing >> D Words
Distinguishing, definition of term: Distinguishing
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