Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense contrasts, present participle contrasting, past tense, past participle contrastedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (kɒntrɑːst, -træst). The verb is pronounced (kəntrɑːst, -træst).
1. variable noun
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
...the contrast between town and country. [+ between]
The two visitors provided a startling contrast in appearance.
Silk was used with wool for contrast.
Synonyms: difference, opposition, comparison, distinction More Synonyms of contrast
2.
See by contrast/in contrast/in contrast to sth
3.
See in contrast
4. countable noun
If one thing is a contrastto another, it is very different from it.
The boy's room is a complete contrast to the guest room. [+ to]
...a country of great contrasts.
5. verb
If you contrast one thing with another, you point out or consider the differences between those things.
She contrasted the situation then with the present crisis. [VERB noun + with]
Contrast that approach with what goes on in most organizations. [VERB noun with noun]
In this section we contrast four possible broad approaches. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: differentiate, compare, oppose, distinguish More Synonyms of contrast
6. verb
If one thing contrastswith another, it is very different from it.
Johnson's easy charm contrasted sharply with the prickliness of his boss. [VERB + with]
Paint the wall in a contrasting colour. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: differ, be contrary, be distinct, be at variance More Synonyms of contrast
7. uncountable noun
Contrast is the degree of difference between the darker and lighter parts of a photograph, television picture, or painting.
...a television with brighter colours, better contrast, and digital sound.
contrast in British English
verb (kənˈtrɑːst)
1. (often foll by with)
to distinguish or be distinguished by comparison of unlike or opposite qualities
noun (ˈkɒntrɑːst)
2.
distinction or emphasis of difference by comparison of opposite or dissimilar things, qualities, etc (esp in the phrases by contrast, in contrast toorwith)
3.
a person or thing showing notable differences when compared with another
4.
(in painting) the effect of the juxtaposition of different colours, tones, etc
5.
a.
(of a photographic emulsion) the degree of density measured against exposure used
b.
the extent to which adjacent areas of an optical image, esp on a television screen or in a photographic negative or print, differ in brightness
6. psychology
the phenomenon that when two different but related stimuli are presented close together in space and/or time they are perceived as being more different than they really are
Derived forms
contrastable (conˈtrastable)
adjective
contrastably (conˈtrastably)
adverb
contrasting (conˈtrasting)
adjective
contrastive (conˈtrastive)
adjective
contrastively (conˈtrastively)
adverb
Word origin
C16: (n): via French from Italian, from contrastare (vb), from Latin contra- against + stare to stand
contrast in American English
(kənˈtræst; for n. ˈkɑnˌtræst)
verb transitive
1.
to compare so as to point out the differences; set off against one another
verb intransitive
2.
to show differences when compared; form a contrast
noun
3.
a contrasting or being contrasted
4.
a difference, esp. a striking difference, between things being compared
5.
a person or thing showing differences when compared with another
6.
the effect of a striking difference, as in color or tone, of adjacent parts of a painting, photograph, video-screen image, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: comˈpare
Derived forms
contrastable (conˈtrastable)
adjective
contrastive (conˈtrastive)
adjective
Word origin
Fr contraster < It & VL *contrastare, to withstand < L contra, against + stare, to stand
COBUILD Collocations
contrast
complete contrast
in direct contrast to
in sharp contrast
interesting contrast
striking contrast
the contrast is stark
Examples of 'contrast' in a sentence
contrast
They are merely two contrasting ways of viewing a situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He plays in stark contrast to how he looks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The fortunes of the two clubs could hardy be in sharper contrast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So which of these contrasting approaches is going to work best for a museum?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Compare and contrast with the best.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is a sobering picture, in contrast to the better prospects for the balance of payments.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His life at the summit of the British tech industry contrasts sharply with his upbringing on the south coast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now consider the contrast with Bournemouth's attacking strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Any noodles will work here but Japanese buckwheat noodles provide a pretty contrast of colour, texture and flavour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The vibrant colours and contrasting textures look and taste wonderful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The different pictures were then contrasted to see which colour was picked up best.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The contrast to four years ago is clear.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The contrast or brightness of the image can be varied to emphasise areas or tissues of interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now is the time to compare and contrast.
The Sun (2015)
The outcomes from the two episodes stand in stark contrast to one another.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This year he had two contrasting films released.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Software adjusts the colours and contrast of photos.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are others whose attitudes to their congenital condition are in sharp contrast to this.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
He has a contrasting effect on the two sets of bowlers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This week was one of contrasting headlines.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Lanzarote is a complete contrast for its sheer weirdness.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The contrasting textures and colours work really well together.
The Sun (2013)
Her work presented a lively contrast to the images by predominantly male war artists sent back from abroad.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The poverty of southern and central Italy was in great contrast to the progress of the north.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
In contrasting these two approaches, the present chapter serves a dual purpose.
Forstner, Helmut, Ballance, Robert Competing in a Global Economy (1990)
DRAMA of the second half was a great contrast to the first.
The Sun (2012)
He rarely bucked or challenged the corrupt status quo - in stark contrast to his image as a reformer.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Canada is a country of contrasts, with cosmopolitan cities backed by some of the most stunning scenery in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I always find extremes the really rich places, where you get the most vivid contrast between sounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
By contrast, consider the surreal situation in Greece.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Nine years, by contrast, sounds a bit too long.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
contrast
British English: contrast /ˈkɒntrɑːst/ NOUN
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things.
...the contrast between town and country.
American English: contrast
Arabic: تَبايُن
Brazilian Portuguese: contraste
Chinese: 对照
Croatian: kontrast
Czech: protiklad
Danish: kontrast
Dutch: contrast
European Spanish: contraste
Finnish: kontrasti
French: contraste
German: Kontrast
Greek: αντίθεση
Italian: contrasto
Japanese: 相違
Korean: 대조
Norwegian: kontrast
Polish: kontrast
European Portuguese: contraste
Romanian: contrast
Russian: контраст
Latin American Spanish: contraste
Swedish: kontrast
Thai: ความแตกต่าง
Turkish: zıtlık
Ukrainian: контраст
Vietnamese: sự tương phản
British English: contrast VERB
If you contrast one thing with another, you point out or consider the differences between those things.
She contrasted the situation then with the present crisis.
American English: contrast
Brazilian Portuguese: comparar
Chinese: 对比事物以指出不同点
European Spanish: contrastar
French: contraster
German: gegenüberstellen
Italian: contrapporre
Japanese: 対比する
Korean: 대조시키다
European Portuguese: comparar
Latin American Spanish: contrastar
All related terms of 'contrast'
in contrast
If one thing is in contrast to another, it is very different from it.
colour contrast
the change in the appearance of a colour surrounded by another colour; for example, grey looks bluish if surrounded by yellow
contrast medium
a radiopaque substance, such as barium sulphate , used to increase the contrast of an image in radiography
complete contrast
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
striking contrast
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
in sharp contrast
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
interesting contrast
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
in direct contrast to
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
the contrast is stark
A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
phase-contrast microscope
a microscope that makes visible details of colourless transparent objects. It employs a method of illumination such that small differences of refractive index of the materials in the object cause differences of luminous intensity by interference
by contrast/in contrast/in contrast to sth
You say by contrast or in contrast , or in contrast to something, to show that you are mentioning a very different situation from the one you have just mentioned.
Chinese translation of 'contrast'
contrast
(nˈkɔntrɑːst; vbkənˈtrɑːst)
n(c/u)
明显(顯)的差异(異) (míngxiǎn de chāyì) (种(種), zhǒng)
to be a contrast to sth与(與)某物截然不同 (yǔ mǒuwù jiérán bùtóng) (个(個), gè)
vt
对(對)比 (duìbǐ)
vi
to contrast with sth与(與)某事形成对(對)照 (yǔ mǒushì xíngchéng duìzhào)
by or in contrast对(對)比之下 (duìbǐ zhī xià)
in contrast to ... 与(與) ... 形成对(對)比 (yǔ ... xíngchéng duìbǐ)
to contrast sth with sth将(將)某物与(與)某物进(進)行对(對)比 (jiāng mǒuwù yǔ mǒuwù jìnxíng duìbǐ)