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1. The opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
   "by contrast"; "in contrast to";
   - direct contrast
    
2. The act of distinguishing by comparing differences
    
3. A conceptual separation or distinction
   "there is a narrow contrast between sanity and insanity";
   - line, dividing line, demarcation
    
4. The perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colours
    
5. (photography) the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)

1. Put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
   "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"
    
2. To show differences when compared; be different
   "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities";
   - counterpoint

Derived forms: contrasts, contrasting, contrasted

Type of: ambit, beholding, comparing, comparison, compass, differ, differentiate, differentiation, distinction, distinguish, oppositeness, opposition, orbit, range, reach, scope, secern [rare], secernate, seeing, separate, severalise [Brit], severalize, tell, tell apart, visual perception

Encyclopedia: Contrast