contrast1 nouncontrast2 verb
contrastcon‧trast1 /ˈkɒntrɑːst $ ˈkɑːntræst/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He's known for his use of contrast in his paintings.
- What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso's early style and his later work.
- By contrast, his present legislation is expected to sail through with little more than some scattered shots from the Parti Québécois.
- By contrast, the median income of those with IRAs, savings and pension plans is $ 44, 500.
- In contrast to Seldane, Claritin is still considered a very safe drug.
- In contrast to the life the researchers had witnessed during their descent, the view was now a barren moonscape.
- Personal selling and sales promotion activities, by contrast, tend to be more effective from Stage 3 onwards. 4.
- The contrasts between the two men are far more telling.
- The non-Communist forces, in contrast, are scattered.
THESAURUS
a detail, fact, or quality that makes one person or thing different from another: · We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.difference between: · Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.· The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat’s milk.difference in: · I don’t think there’s any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.know the difference: · He’s speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don’t you know the difference?
a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody: · What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso’s early style and his later work.
a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between: · There’s a ten-year gap between Kay’s two children.· The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.age/gender/income etc gap: · The age gap between us didn’t seem to matter until we decided to have children.
a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody: · More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication): · The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.
formal a big difference between two groups of people or things – use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between: · It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.disparity in: · the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employeesthe economic/income etc disparity: · The economic disparity between the area’s black and white citizens is a serious problem.
Longman Language Activatorwhen one thing is being compared with another · The British are good drivers compared to those in the rest of the EU.· Statistics show that there has been a 20% reduction in burglary compared with last year.· Women visit their doctors six times a year compared to the three or so visits that men make.
as shown when compared with another situation, idea, person etc: · My car is so slow that it makes a bicycle look fast in comparison.in comparison/by comparison with: · We employ far fewer staff in comparison with similar-sized companies.pale in/by comparison (=to look worse or much less important in comparison): · Forecasters say this year's drought could make that of 1991 pale by comparison.· The Yankees' problems pale by comparison with those of the Dodgers.
use this to talk about the difference between the things, situations, people etc that you are comparing: · I read a lot as a child, but my daughter, by contrast, just seems interested in television.in contrast to: · In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.
use this to say that something seems more or less impressive, important etc when compared to something else: · Tom's efforts seemed so weak beside Martin's.· Delhi is so old that many European cities actually look young beside it.
use this when you are comparing two pieces of information, facts, etc in order to show how they are different: · Last year there were 443 industrial accidents as against 257 in 1985.· With only 57 inhabitants per square mile, as against a world average of over 70, the country is far from overcrowded.
use this to say that something does not seem correct, suitable, impressive etc compared with the things that surround it: · Ricky's head is small in proportion to the rest of his body.· I've always thought that my problems were very minor in proportion to those of many other people.
having a particular quality when compared with something else: · Kim lived a life of relative ease and privilege.relative strength/weakness: · the relative strength of the dollar against the Mexican pesorelative advantages (and disadvantages): · She was terrified of flying. The relative advantages of air travel didn't tempt her at all.relative merits (=what is good about them compared with each other): · The two men stood at the bar discussing the relative merits of various sports cars.it is all relative (=it can not be judged on its own, but must be compared with others): · It's all relative, isn't it? Someone who is poor in this country might be considered well off in another.
: comparative happiness/comfort/safety etc happiness, comfort, safety etc that is fairly satisfactory when compared to another: · After a lifetime of poverty, his last few years were spent in comparative comfort.· Fresh fruit and vegetables have become a comparative rarity in the region.· During the bombings, families sheltered in the comparative safety of the underground rail stations.
: more/less/bigger etc than · Geographically, Canada is bigger than the US.· My sister earns a lot more than I do.
the difference between two people or things the amount by which one person, thing, or amount is different from another: difference between: · Calculate the difference between the amount you started with and what you have left.a big/huge etc difference: · There is a vast difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in the desert.difference in: · There was fifteen years difference in age between the two women.age/height/price etc difference (=between one amount and another): · I prefer the Peugeot 406 to the 405. What's the price difference?pay the difference: · If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your Dad and I will pay the difference.
a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody: · What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso's early style and his later work.
a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between: · There's a ten-year gap between Kay's two children.· The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.age/gender/income etc gap: · The age gap between us didn't seem to matter until we decided to have children.
a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody: · More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication): · The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.
a difference between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life which means they will never be friends, become the same etc: divide between: · Recently the divide between the two sides has widened.a cultural/political etc divide: · There is still a great economic and political divide between the east and the west of the country.
formal a big difference between two groups of people or things - use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between: · It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.disparity in: · the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employeesthe economic/income etc disparity: · The economic disparity between the area's black and white citizens is a serious problem.
WORD SETSaerial, nounairtime, nounAM, nounantenna, nounatmospherics, nounaudio, adjectiveband, nounBBC, the, beacon, nounbeam, verbBeeb, the, bleep, verbboom, nounboom box, nounBritish Broadcasting Corporation, nounbroadband, nounbroadcast, nounbroadcast, verbcable television, CB, nounCCTV, nounCeefax, nounchannel, nounclosed circuit television, nouncommunications satellite, nouncontrast, noundial, nounDJ, nounexposure, nounflash, verbFM, nounfrequency, nounham, nounHz, interference, nounjam, verbkHz, kilohertz, nounlinkup, nounlive, adjectivelocal radio, nounlong wave, nounloudspeaker, nounLW, mast, nounmedium wave, nounmegahertz, nounMHz, modulate, verbmonitor, nounmono, nounmono, adjectiveNBC, nounnetwork, nounnetwork, verbon-air, adjectiveover, prepositionpresenter, nounprogramming, nounquadraphonic, adjectiveradio, nounradio, verbreceive, verbreceiver, nounreception, nounrepeat, verbrepeat, nounrerun, nounrerun, verbroger, interjectionsatellite, nounsatellite dish, nounsatellite television, nounsaturation, nounscrambler, nounseries, nounset, nounshipping forecast, nounship-to-shore, adjectiveshort wave, nounsignal, nounsignature tune, nounsimulcast, verbSOS, nounsound, nounsound bite, nounsound check, nounstatic, nountelecast, nounTeletext, nountelevise, verbtelevision, nountelevision licence, nountelly, nountime signal, nountrack, verbtransistor, nountransistor radio, nountransmission, nountransmit, verbtransmitter, nountune, verbtuner, nountweeter, nountwo-way, adjectiveUHF, noununscramble, verbveejay, nounvideo, nounvideo, adjectivevideo jockey, nounvolume, nounwaveband, nounwavelength, nounwhite noise, nounwireless, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
Miller’s organized desk stood in marked contrast to the rest of the office. His honesty is in sharp contrast to (=very different from) some other politicians. The extreme poverty of the local people is in stark contrast to the wealth of the tourists. a striking contrast between wealth and povertyCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· A complete contrast in building style can be seen in Commercial Road.
(=very great)· There is a sharp contrast between the type of people who read the two newspapers.
(=very noticeable)· I noticed a marked contrast in his behaviour before and after treatment.
(=very noticeable and surprising)· The big modern factories make a startling contrast to the opposite side of the road.
(=great and surprising)· Alaska is a land of dramatic contrast.
· the interesting contrast between his early and later paintings
· There was a clear contrast between the father and the son.
verbs· The fruit and the meat make a delicious contrast of flavours.
(=say there is a contrast)· It is tempting to draw sharp contrasts between religion and science.
· The plant is very attractive, and provides excellent contrast to other plants.
(=make a contrast very obvious)· The research will highlight the contrasts between different approaches to taxation.
· The mountains stand in stark contrast to the area around them.
phrases (=completely different to something or someone)· She’s fun and warm and amusing – in direct contrast to James.
· We are still getting some sun, in marked contrast to last year’s everlasting grey skies.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=ones that are different from each other in a way that looks attractive)· You need to have one or two contrasting colours in the room.
(=an expression used when telling students to write about the things that are similar or different in works of literature or art) Compare and contrast the main characters of these two novels.
Compare and contrast the main characters of these two novels. Miller’s organized desk stood in marked contrast to the rest of the office. His honesty is in sharp contrast to (=very different from) some other politicians. The extreme poverty of the local people is in stark contrast to the wealth of the tourists. a striking contrast between wealth and poverty· Jane, who captained the school lacrosse team, was a complete contrast to Sarah.· In complete contrast to Ybreska, Kirov was a man of deep political and ideological convictions.· In complete contrast the South East began to recover relatively.· This view is in complete contrast to those who maintain that environmental deterioration is widespread and of critical importance.· Wesley's sermon provides a complete contrast.· The procedures adopted on enquiries are a complete contrast to those in professional practice.· The eastern end of Loch Arkaig, in complete contrast to its middle and upper reaches, is beautifully wooded.· He was a complete mess; and please, let me claim, in complete contrast to my own turnout.
· From this perspective we can see a direct contrast with the normativist style.· This is in direct contrast to the company's more secretive past as part of the Central Electricity Generating Board.· And in direct contrast again, this approach may bring you long-term loyalty rather than compliance.
· There could hardly have been a greater contrast than that between Kennedy and his successor.· They had to jump out at you, to create the greatest possible contrast with the brown floor of the stage.· There was no greater contrast than between his slowness of speech and quickness of pace.· Most of the island is cattle pasture, in great contrast to Madeira.· The dye colour chosen should be complementary to the rock colour soas to provide the greatest degree of contrast.· The first principal component has most information and hence the greatest contrast and least noise.· As they stood together there could hardly have been a greater contrast.· Their approach was in great contrast to what might have been the position had the official Opposition been in government.
· In marked contrast to this fall amongst younger age groups, the number of retired people had increased by 39 percent.· An entry in the medical officer's report book of January 1906 is in marked contrast.· This is so because of the strongly marked contrast between the opening and responsive phrases in each passage.· Such a marked contrast between the curves seems unlikely to arise unless there are coherent features in the large eddy motion.· A third marked contrast, of enormous ecological and economic significance, is in leaf litter.· Today's result is in marked contrast to the Glenn Hoddle tribunal last month.· This new vision of life is in marked contrast to the blindness and insensitivity of self-interest and pride.· This is in marked contrast to desktop publishing programs where almost every element has to be created externally and then imported.
· In sharp contrast, Derry are chasing a League and Cup double.· Beyond the quipping, Dole presented sharp contrasts in style with Clinton.· This is in sharp contrast to the approach of traditional neo-classical economics.· Cactus-covered buttes stand in sharp contrast to the blue water, making this an idyllic spot for a getaway.· The shares opened at 28p yesterday, in sharp contrast to a high of 233p in August 1988.· That was in sharp contrast to a 6. 5 % decline for all of 1994.· That's in sharp contrast to brother Gerald.
· They're in stark contrast to an earlier picture he'd rather forget.· The differing tactics present a stark contrast.· The suicidal farmers can be set in stark contrast to the wealthy shareholders who pocket the difference.· It was the first time college basketball had witnessed so stark a racial contrast in a national final.· His white teeth and brown oval eyes stood out in stark contrast against his dark tanned skin.· This line of argument is in stark contrast to Drebin etal.· This is in stark contrast to the fifties and sixties when loan capital formed an important part of corporate financing needs.· This stark contrast is not invention, but it is none the less unhistorical.
VERB· The yellow tomatoes have a standard tomato flavour and provide an excellent colour contrast in salads.· Texture provides contrast in a room, and adds further interest and another dimension.· Ten Bel Geminis Geminis provide a contrast to Drago with a more relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere.· Wesley's sermon provides a complete contrast.· It provides a good contrast to more elaborate music.· I then added a few alchemilla leaves to provide a contrast with the dark background.· The nearby town of Saint Germain-en-Laye provides an extraordinary contrast.
· His white teeth and brown oval eyes stood out in stark contrast against his dark tanned skin.· Second, the Orphic prohibition against killing stands in marked contrast to the Titans' devouring Dionysos.· For it is often supposed that his attitude towards women stands in stark contrast to that of the surrounding society.· The kids are mostly minorities; their bleak, impoverished lives stand in stark contrast to the mansions on their maps.· It stood in contrast to the totalitarianism gathering pace under Lenin and Trotsky which accelerated out of control under Stalin.· We shared a moment of worry that stood in sharp contrast to the celebration exploding around us.· The sky is lead gray, and so the oranges and yellows of the maples stand out vibrant in contrast.
· The physical condition of the officers and men of the two ships at this time was in striking contrast.· Edwin must have been struck by the contrast each time he climbed the stairs.· Christina was struck by the contrast between Colette's delighted anticipation and her own bewilderment and apprehension all those years ago.
WORD FAMILYnouncontrastadjectivecontrastingverbcontrast
1[countable, uncountable] a difference between people, ideas, situations, things etc that are being compared: While there are similarities in the two cultures, there are also great contrasts.contrast between the economic and social contrasts between the poor and the richcontrast with The marble is smooth and polished, making a strong contrast with the worn stonework around it.by contrast (to/with) The birth rate for older women has declined, but, by contrast, births to teenage mothers have increased.in contrast (to/with) The stock lost 60 cents a share, in contrast to last year, when it gained 21 cents.(in) stark/marked/sharp etc contrast to something The winter heat wave in California is a stark contrast to the below-freezing temperatures on the East Coast. The spirited mood on Friday was in sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere last week. The approach to learning at this school stands in marked contrast to the traditional methods used at other schools nearby.2[countable] something that is very different from something else: The sauce is quite sweet, so add dried thyme as a contrast.contrast to The red stems of this bush provide a contrast to the drab brown of the winter garden.3[uncountable] the degree of difference between the light and dark parts of a television picture, X-ray, photocopy etc: This button adjusts the contrast.4[uncountable] the differences in colour, or between light and dark, that an artist uses in paintings or photographs to make a particular effect: The artist has used contrast marvellously in his paintings.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa complete/total contrast· A complete contrast in building style can be seen in Commercial Road.a sharp/stark/strong contrast (=very great)· There is a sharp contrast between the type of people who read the two newspapers.a marked/striking contrast (=very noticeable)· I noticed a marked contrast in his behaviour before and after treatment.a startling contrast (=very noticeable and surprising)· The big modern factories make a startling contrast to the opposite side of the road.a dramatic contrast (=great and surprising)· Alaska is a land of dramatic contrast.an interesting contrast· the interesting contrast between his early and later paintingsa clear/obvious contrast· There was a clear contrast between the father and the son.verbsmake a contrast· The fruit and the meat make a delicious contrast of flavours.draw a contrast (=say there is a contrast)· It is tempting to draw sharp contrasts between religion and science.provide/offer contrast· The plant is very attractive, and provides excellent contrast to other plants.highlight a contrast (=make a contrast very obvious)· The research will highlight the contrasts between different approaches to taxation.stand in sharp/stark etc contrast to something· The mountains stand in stark contrast to the area around them.phrasesin direct contrast to something/somebody (=completely different to something or someone)· She’s fun and warm and amusing – in direct contrast to James.in sharp/stark etc contrast· We are still getting some sun, in marked contrast to last year’s everlasting grey skies.contrast1 nouncontrast2 verb
contrastcon‧trast2 /kənˈtrɑːst $ -ˈtræst/ ●●○ AWL verb WORD ORIGINcontrast2
Origin:
1600-1700 French contraster, from Italian contrastare ‘to stand out against, fight against’, from Latin contra- ( ➔ CONTRA-) + stare ‘to stand’VERB TABLE
contrast
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | contrast |
| he, she, it | contrasts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | contrasted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have contrasted |
| he, she, it | has contrasted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had contrasted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will contrast |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have contrasted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am contrasting |
| he, she, it | is contrasting | |
| you, we, they | are contrasting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was contrasting |
| you, we, they | were contrasting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been contrasting |
| he, she, it | has been contrasting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been contrasting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be contrasting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been contrasting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- In the film, the peaceful life of a monk is contrasted with the violent life of a murderer.
- It is interesting to contrast life in Spain now with what it was like prior to 1975.
- She has written a book contrasting the two prison systems.
- The book compares and contrasts the various methods used in language teaching.
- The guide was contrasting the styles of Monet and Manet.
- Her paintings often contrast the mystical activities of women with the rational activities of male scientists.
- It is interesting to contrast gravitation with the other long-range force of nature - electromagnetism.
- Now only one pixel in each column must be activated; all the others must contrast with it.
- The graceful flourish of his handwriting contrasted oddly with the fractured grammar and exotic spelling of his prose.
- This contrasts with capital market securities, which have maturities in excess of one year.
THESAURUS
to consider two or more things or people, in order to show how they are similar or different: · Scientists compared the results of both experiments.· The woman’s body was identified by comparing her teeth with dental records.
to compare two or more things or people and say how they are similar: · In her article, she makes a comparison between people’s lives now and 50 years ago.· It is possible to draw a comparison between the two poets’ work.
to say that two situations are similar – a rather formal use: · Some people have attempted to draw an analogy between America’s invasion of Iraq and the war in Vietnam.
to say that some features of things are similar, especially things that are actually very different – a rather formal use: · He draws a parallel between football and religion.· Parallels can be drawn between her work and that of Picasso.
to compare two things, situations etc, in order to show how they are different from each other: · In her novel she contrasts the lives of two families in very different circumstances.
to say that you think two things are very different: · The author draws a distinction between allowing death to occur, and causing it.· It is important to make a distinction between people’s fears about crime and the amount of crime that really happens.
to compare two people or things, in order to judge which is better, bigger etc: · As a young actress, she was nervous of being measured against her famous father.· Murray’s progress is often measured against that of Nadal.
Longman Language Activatorto compare things to think about two or more things or people, in order to see how similar or different they are: · You should compare at least three or four computers before buying one.compare something/somebody with: · I hate the way you always compare me with your ex-boyfriend.· If you compare rents in London with those in New York, you'll find they are about the same.· You can't compare Charlie Parker with John Coltrane. They were completely different musicians.
to describe someone or something as being similar to someone or something else, especially in order to make it easier to understand: liken somebody/something to: · Critics have likened the new city hall building to a barn.· Morris has often been likened to Bobby Kennedy.· He likened today's stockmarket to that of the 1920s.
to compare two or more situations or ideas, people etc: make a comparison between: · The article makes a comparison between the novels 'Anna Karenina' and 'Madame Bovary'.
to compare two similar situations or ideas in order to explain or prove something about one of them: draw an analogy between: · He drew an analogy between mathematics and language.· Joe drew an analogy between the Soviet Union of 1946 and Germany of 1938.
to compare two different situations in order to show that they are similar in some ways: draw a parallel between/with: · One could draw a parallel between the professions of acting and politics.· He was drawing parallels between events leading up to the last war and current political problems.· You could draw parallels with the old Samson and Delilah story.
to compare two things, situations, ideas etc in order to show how they are different from each other: · The guide was contrasting the styles of Monet and Manet.contrast with: · In the film, the peaceful life of a monk is contrasted with the violent life of a murderer.· It is interesting to contrast life in Spain now with what it was like prior to 1975.compare and contrast (=show the similarities and differences): · The book compares and contrasts the various methods used in language teaching.
not like someone or something else if something or someone is different , they are not like something or someone else, or they are not like they were before: · You look different. Have you had your hair cut?· People are all so different. You can never tell how they will react.· Things are different now, since John left.· We've painted the door a different colour.different from something/somebodyalso different than something/somebody American: · This computer's different from the one I used in my last job.· Life today is different than ten, fifteen years ago.completely/totally different: · I'd like a totally different look in the kitchen - something brighter and more modern.
different from - use this especially when two things or people are not at all similar: · Walking in the hills isn't like walking down the street - it can be very dangerous.not at all like/nothing like (=completely different from): · She's very shy - not at all like her sister.· James was nothing like I'd expected, from what I had heard.not look/sound like: · The voice on the answering machine didn't sound like Anna's at all.
different - use this especially when two things are similar but are not exactly like each other, or when one of them is not as good as the other: · The two designs are similar but not the same. Which do you prefer?· I prefer having my own house. Living in a rented flat really isn't the same.not the same as: · I've tried Mexican food here in London, but it just isn't the same as in Mexico.
if things of the same type vary , they are all different from each other: · Methods of treatment vary according to the age and general health of the patient.vary considerably/greatly/widely: · Prices of video cameras vary considerably.vary in price/quality/size etc: · The hotel rooms vary in size, but all have televisions and telephones.
formal if two things differ , they have different qualities or features: · People's abilities differ, but their rights and opportunities should be the same.differ from: · Scottish law has always differed from English law.differ in cost/size/appearance etc: · A lot of painkillers are basically the same, differing only in cost.differ greatly/widely: · Opinions on the subject differ greatly.
if one thing contrasts with another thing, the difference between them is very easy to see and is sometimes surprising: · His extrovert personality contrasts with his sister's quiet, shy character.· The snow was icy and white, contrasting with the brilliant blue sky.contrast sharply/markedly with something (=to be extremely different): · These results contrast sharply with those of similar tests carried out in Australia.
a method, way of behaving etc that is a departure from the usual one is different, new, and unusual: · Such methods are, of course, a departure from traditional medical practice.mark/represent/signal a departure from something: · The move represented a departure from the government's commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.
things that are diverse are different from each other and cover a wide range of possible styles, types etc: · The music college aims to encourage talents as diverse as members of symphony orchestras and pop groups.· diverse political viewsa diverse range of something: · People enter the organisation from a diverse range of social, economic, and educational backgrounds.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY an essay comparing and contrasting (=showing how two things are similar and different) Verdi and Wagner and their operasCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Miller’s organized desk stood in marked contrast to the rest of the office. His honesty is in sharp contrast to (=very different from) some other politicians. The extreme poverty of the local people is in stark contrast to the wealth of the tourists. a striking contrast between wealth and povertyCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=be extremely different from something) These results contrast sharply with other medical tests carried out in Australia.
These results contrast sharply with other medical tests carried out in Australia. an essay comparing and contrasting (=showing how two things are similar and different) Verdi and Wagner and their operas (=ones that are different from each other in a way that looks attractive)· You need to have one or two contrasting colours in the room.
(=an expression used when telling students to write about the things that are similar or different in works of literature or art) Compare and contrast the main characters of these two novels.
Compare and contrast the main characters of these two novels. Miller’s organized desk stood in marked contrast to the rest of the office. His honesty is in sharp contrast to (=very different from) some other politicians. The extreme poverty of the local people is in stark contrast to the wealth of the tourists. a striking contrast between wealth and poverty· It contrasts markedly with similar past projects which often suffered from appalling industrial relations and were sometimes years late.· It contrasts markedly with the £4,000 perannum at which one of his biographers rated his income.
· His lack of charisma and often unhappy persona will contrast sharply with Mandela's awesome humility, humour and stern paternalism.· Horsley just smiled, his large relaxed frame and confident bonhomie contrasting sharply with the abrupt style of the little self-made Geordie.· Bruch painted a psychological portrait of the obese that contrasted sharply with the image of the jolly fat person.
· Their behaviour contrasted starkly to the more traditional image of Party members as simple-living, self-sacrificing people.
· His reasoned and reasonable tone had contrasted strongly with the confrontational stance of his colleagues.· This contrasts strongly with the simplicity of word processing, data base or even spreadsheet software.· Knighton provided a busy interlude, the bustle contrasting strongly with the tranquility of my journey.
VERB· Opportunities ought to be compared and contrasted.· For example is there something similar happening in their own country so that they might compare and contrast practice in one country and another?· Pupils could be asked to compare and contrast their own area with another different area.· At this stage they are encouraged to compare and contrast the facilities and user interfaces provided.
WORD FAMILYnouncontrastadjectivecontrastingverbcontrast
1[intransitive] if two things contrast, the difference between them is very easy to see and is sometimes surprisingcontrast with The snow was icy and white, contrasting with the brilliant blue sky.contrast sharply/strikingly with something (=be extremely different from something) These results contrast sharply with other medical tests carried out in Australia.2[transitive] to compare two things, ideas, people etc to show how different they are from each othercontrast something with something In another passage, Melville again contrasts the land with the sea. an essay comparing and contrasting (=showing how two things are similar and different) Verdi and Wagner and their operas► see thesaurus at compare