differ

Everyday

1. To differ means to be not the same as something else. tree →
2. To differ means to have a different opinion, to disagree: «we differ on which film is best». tree →

In the lessons

tells how much two amounts are apart: «differ by 5»; in science: compare how plants or animals differ; in maths: the difference is how much two numbers differ; in everyday life: people's tastes differ, and that is fine; phrases: «differ from», «differ by», «agree to differ»

Examples

• The two numbers differ by 5. tree →
• Their heights differ by 12 cm. tree →
• How much do the prices differ? tree →
• The two answers differ. tree →
• How does a frog differ from a toad? tree →
• Twins can differ in many ways. tree →
• We agreed to differ about the best football team. tree →
• The weather can differ a lot from one day to the next. tree →
• We differ from you in one point only. tree →

Note

Points to a difference: bigger − smaller. Trap: «differ by 5» does not say which is bigger; read the other clues. Noun: difference; adjective: different. Past: differed (single r before -ed: differed, differing).

In Jewish tradition

tells how much two amounts are apart: «differ by 5»; in science: compare how plants or animals differ; in maths: the difference is how much two numbers differ; in everyday life: people's tastes differ, and that is fine; phrases: «differ from», «differ by», «agree to differ»

Examples

• Pistorii artis cabalistical scriptorum, Tom I, p. 869, sqq., differing from that of Postellus. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• Here the view of various writers differ widely. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Points to a difference: bigger − smaller. Trap: «differ by 5» does not say which is bigger; read the other clues. Noun: difference; adjective: different. Past: differed (single r before -ed: differed, differing).