1 [C] a difference (between A and B) the way that people or things are not the same or the way that sb/sth has changed 差别;差异;不同之处:
What's the difference between this computer and that cheaper one?这台计算机与那台较便宜的有什么不同?From a distance it's hard to tell the difference between the twins.从远处看很难区分这对双胞胎。
2 [C,U] difference (in sth) (between A and B) the amount by which people or things are not the same or by which sb/sth has changed (数量上的)差,差额,差距:
There's an age difference of three years between the two children.这两名儿童相差三岁。There's very little difference in price since last year.去年以来价格的变化不大。We gave a 30% deposit and must pay the difference when the work is finished (= the rest of the money).我们付了30%作为订金,余额则须在完工时缴付。
3 [C] a disagreement that is not very serious 不同的意见;分歧;轻微的争执:
All couples have their differencesfrom time to time.所有夫妻都免不了偶尔有不同意见。There was a difference of opinion over how much we owed.我们究竟欠多少,对这个问题存在不同看法。
make a, some, etc difference (to sb/sth) to have an effect (on sb/sth) 对…有影响;对…起作用:
Marriage made a big difference to her life.婚姻在很大程度上改变了她的生活。make no difference (to sb/sth);not make any difference to not be important (to sb/sth); to have no effect 对…并不重要;对…无影响:
It makes no difference to us if the baby is a girl or a boy.对我们来说生男生女都一样。split the difference→SPLIT¹