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diff Meaning & Definition

/dɪf/

What Does Diff Mean?

Diff is a noun that means Clipping of difference. It can also mean Clipping of differential. As a verb, it means To run a diff program on (files or items) so as to produce a description of the differences between them, as for a patch file. As an adjective, it means Abbreviation of different.

Diff: Key Facts

Part of speechnoun, verb, adjective, proper noun
Pronunciation//dɪf//
Syllables1
Synonymsdeparture, deviation and disparity
Antonymsidentity and sameness
Pluraldiffs
Verb formsdiffs, diffing, diffed

Diff Definition (Noun)

  1. Clipping of difference

    A peach and an apricot? What's the diff?

  2. Clipping of differential

    This function takes that diff and plugs it into the larger structure.

  3. Used to trash-talk an opposing team at the end of a game by pointing out a skill difference between some role and the same role on the other team.

    tank diff (i.e., the deciding factor in the game was the difference in skill between the teams' tank players)

  4. Any program which compares two files or sets of files and outputs a description of the differences between them.
  5. The output of a diff program, a diff file.

    edit diff

  6. Abbreviation of differential: the differential gear in an automobile.

    This diff is capable of locking up when wheel slip occurs.

  7. Abbreviation of differential: differential of types of white blood cell in a complete blood count.

    CBC with diff

  8. A difficult route.
  9. Clipping of difficulty. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Diff as a Verb

  1. To run a diff program on (files or items) so as to produce a description of the differences between them, as for a patch file.
  2. To compare two files or other objects, manually or otherwise.
  3. To win (or to be able to win) a fight against another, with a defined level of difficulty. Usually used when power scaling fictional characters.
  4. To drive a rear wheel car performing donuts

Diff as an Adjective

  1. Abbreviation of different.

Diff as a Proper Noun

  1. A program, historically part of the Unix operating system, which compares two files or sets of files and outputs a description of the differences between them.

Noun

  1. The quality of being different.

    You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.

  2. A characteristic of something that makes it different from something else.

    There are three differences between these two pictures.

  3. A disagreement or argument.

    We have our little differences, but we are firm friends.

  4. Significant change in or effect on a situation or state.

    It just won't make much difference to me.

  5. The result of a subtraction; sometimes the absolute value of this result.

    The difference between 3 and 21 is 18.

  6. Choice; preference.
  7. An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish two people's bearings which would otherwise be the same. See augmentation and cadency.
  8. The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
  9. (logic circuits) A Boolean operation which is TRUE when the two input variables are different but is otherwise FALSE; the XOR operation (\scriptstyle A \overline B + \overline A B).
  10. (relational algebra) the set of elements that are in one set but not another (\scriptstyle A \overline B).

Noun

  1. The differential gear in an automobile etc
  2. A qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things
  3. An infinitesimal change in a variable, or the result of differentiation
  4. One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.
  5. A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all.

Synonyms of Diff

departuredeviationdisparitydivergenceconflictdifference of opiniondisputedissensionremaindernevermind
Diff synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Diff

identitysameness

Diff in a Sentence

A peach and an apricot? What's the diff?

This function takes that diff and plugs it into the larger structure.

tank diff (i.e., the deciding factor in the game was the difference in skill between the teams' tank players)

edit diff

This diff is capable of locking up when wheel slip occurs.

CBC with diff

You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.

There are three differences between these two pictures.

We have our little differences, but we are firm friends.

It just won't make much difference to me.

The difference between 3 and 21 is 18.

Word Forms & Grammar

diff (countable and uncountable, plural diffs)

diff (third-person singular simple present diffs, present participle diffing, simple past and past participle diffed)

diff (not comparable)

diff

Words That Rhyme With Diff

stiffwhiffbiffquiffglyphriffgliffsniffspifftiffziffgriffgriffepetroglyphhieroglyphdifgiffhorned whiffmake as ifracing skiffkiffshiffget a whiffliffbriarcliffriffewoodcliffclifcliffcliffe

How to Pronounce Diff

You say diff as //dɪf//. It has 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Diff

Is diff a noun or a verb?

Diff is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb, an adjective and a proper noun.

What is another word for diff?

Close synonyms of diff are departure, deviation and disparity. See the full list of diff synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of diff?

The opposite of diff can be expressed with words like identity and sameness.

What is the plural of diff?

The plural of diff is diffs.

What is the past tense of diff?

The past tense of diff is diffed. The present participle is diffing.

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