distinctive
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Related to distinctive: distinctive capabilities
dis·tinc·tive
(dĭ-stĭngk′tĭv)adj.
1. Serving to identify; distinguishing or characteristic: the distinctive call of the hermit thrush. See Usage Note at distinct.
2. Distinguished or attractive: "Her forefinger tracked the cleft in his chin, and she thought how distinctive it made him look" (Joan Johnston).
3. Linguistics Phonemically relevant and capable of conveying a difference in meaning, as nasalization in the initial sound of mat versus bat.
dis·tinc′tive·ly adv.
dis·tinc′tive·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
distinctive
(dɪˈstɪŋktɪv)adj
1. serving or tending to distinguish
2. (Phonetics & Phonology) denoting one of a set of minimal features of a phoneme in a given language that serve to distinguish it from other phonemes. The distinctive features of /p/ in English are that it is voiceless, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive; /b/ is voiced, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive: the two differ by the distinctive feature of voice
disˈtinctively adv
disˈtinctiveness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dis•tinc•tive
(dɪˈstɪŋk tɪv)adj.
1. serving to distinguish; characteristic; distinguishing: the zebra's distinctive stripes.
2. having a special quality, style, attractiveness, etc.; notable.
3. Ling. serving to distinguish meanings.
[1575–85; < Medieval Latin]
dis•tinc′tive•ly, adv.
dis•tinc′tive•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
distinct
– distinctive – distinguished1. 'distinct'
If one thing is distinct from another, there is an important difference between them.
Our interests were quite distinct from those of the workers.
...a tree related to but quite distinct from the European beech.
You describe something as distinct when it is clear and definite.
I have the distinct feeling that my friend did not realize what was happening.
A distinct improvement had come about in their social outlook.
2. 'distinctive'
You use distinctive to describe things which have a special quality that makes them easy to recognize.
Irene had a very distinctive voice.
3. 'distinguished'
A distinguished person is very successful, famous, or important.
His grandfather had been a distinguished professor at the University.
Now, clean and tidily dressed, we stood watching the first distinguished visitors come trickling in.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Adj. | 1. | ![]() characteristic - typical or distinctive; "heard my friend's characteristic laugh"; "red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn"; "stripes characteristic of the zebra" |
2. | distinctive - capable of being classified identifiable - capable of being identified |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
distinctive
adjective characteristic, special, individual, specific, unique, typical, extraordinary, distinguishing, signature, peculiar, singular, idiosyncratic the distinctive odour of chlorine
common, ordinary, typical, run-of-the-mill
common, ordinary, typical, run-of-the-mill
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
distinctive
adjectiveServing to identify or set apart an individual or group:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Spanish / Español
distinctive
[dɪsˈtɪŋktɪv] ADJ [sound, colour] → característico; [flavour, smell, voice] → inconfundible, característico; [plumage, fur] → distintivo, característico; [style] → característico, particular; [clothing, decor] → peculiar, particularone of the distinctive features of Elizabethan architecture → uno de los rasgos característicos de la arquitectura isabelina
stone walls are a distinctive feature of the countryside → los muros de piedra son característicos del campo
what was most distinctive about him was his extreme nervousness → lo que más le caracterizaba era su extremo nerviosismo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
distinct
(diˈstiŋkt) adjective1. easily seen, heard or noticed. There are distinct differences between the two; Her voice is very distinct.claro, marcado, inconfundible
2. separate or different. Those two birds are quite distinct – you couldn't confuse them.distinto
diˈstinctly adverbdiˈstinctness noundiˈstinction (-ʃən) noun1. (the making of) a difference. He makes no distinction between male and female employees with regard to pay.distinción
2. a grade awarded that indicates outstanding ability or achievement. She passed her exams with distinction.sobresaliente
diˈstinctive (-tiv) adjective different and easily identified. I recognized her from a long way off – she has a very distinctive walk!distintivo, característico
diˈstinctively adverb distintivamente, característicamente
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
distinctive
→ peculiarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009