discriminate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions

   discriminate judgments

2. 2
   verb

   distinguish

   I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish

3. 3
   verb

   To make distinctions.

   Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.

4. 4
   verb

   To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.

   Low self-esteem can affect both rich and poor people: it doesn't discriminate.

5. 5
   verb

   To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.

   To discriminate the goats from the sheep.

6. 6
   adj

   Having its differences marked; distinguished by certain tokens.

   Nevertheless it is certain, that oisters, and cockles, and mussels, which move not, have no discriminate sex

7. 7
   verb

   recognize or perceive the difference

8. 8
   verb

   treat differently on the basis of sex or race

Etymology

First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, division, separation, distinction”), from discernō (“to divide, separate, distinguish, discern”).