contrast

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; ,
  2. noun the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
  3. noun a conceptual separation or distinction

Etymology

From French contraster, from Italian contrastare (“to resist", "to withstand”), from Vulgar Latin *contrāstāre, from Latin contrā (“against”) + stō, stāre (“to stand”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

direct contrast

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