1. (

• distinguish ,
• separate ,
• differentiate ,
• secern ,
• secernate ,
• severalize ,
• severalise ,
• tell ,
• tell_apart

) mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple" ;

2. (

• spot ,
• recognize ,
• recognise ,
• distinguish ,
• discern ,
• pick_out ,
• make_out ,
• tell_apart

) detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph" ;

3. (

• distinguish ,
• mark ,
• differentiate ,

) be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers" ;

4. (

• signalize ,
• signalise ,
• distinguish

) make conspicuous or noteworthy ;

5. (

• identify ,
• discover ,
• key ,
• key_out ,
• distinguish ,
• describe ,
• name ,

) identify as in botany or biology, for example ;

1. (

• distinguished

) (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; "our distinguished professor" ;

2. (

• distinguished ,
• grand ,
• imposing ,
• magisterial

) used of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person; "his distinguished bearing"; "the monarch's imposing presence"; "she reigned in magisterial beauty" ;