CONTRAST • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Contrast

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/kˈɑntræst/ /kəntrˈæst/ Listen

noun

Contrast n.

The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted; comparison by contrariety of qualities. "place the prospect of the soul In sober contrast with reality."

Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness, esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison. "The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons."

(Fine Arts) The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such juxtaposition more vividly express each other's peculiarities.

verb

Contrast v. t.

To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of; to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast the present with the past.

(Fine Arts) To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or object. "the figures of the groups must not be all on side... but must contrast each other by their several position."

Contrast v. i. (past & past part. contrasted; pres. part. contrasting) To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or opposition of qualities. "The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars."

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Etymology of 'Contrast'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Contrast" Quotes from Famous Books

... the other, "their coats are blacker than our hair! Their nostrils pulse like a heart on fire! Their eyes flash like water in the sun! Ay! the handsome stranger, will he roll us in the dust? Ay! our golden horses, with the tails and manes of silver—how beautiful is the contrast with the vaqueros in their black and silver, their soft white linen! The shame! the shame!—if they are put to shame! Poor Guido! Will he lose this day, when he has won so many? But the stranger is so handsome! Dios de mi vida! his eyes ...

— The Splendid Idle Forties - Stories of Old California • Gertrude Atherton

... my opinion contrary to that of the noble lord who has now spoken; and it is no common perplexity to be reduced to the difficult choice of either suppressing my thoughts, or exposing them to so disadvantageous a contrast. ...

— The Works of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 11. - Parlimentary Debates II. • Samuel Johnson

... it is just so with all, and not contrast the inside of your paving stone with the ...

— The Magician's Show Box and Other Stories • Lydia Maria Child

... containing only pools of water. The scrub now opened, and the last four miles lay through a fine box-flat, bounded by long hollows surrounded with drooping tea-trees and the white water-gum, the bright foliage of which formed a most agreeable contrast with the dull green of the scrubs and the box-trees. After crossing a small sandy creek, along which grew a few Sarcocephalus, we came to a large creek lined with drooping tea-trees and Sarcocephalus, and encamped on a fine ...

— Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia • Ludwig Leichhardt

... be impossible to picture that scene; but still more impossible to describe the contrast which, but the moment after, might have been witnessed upon the raft, when it was ascertained that the cry was a false alarm. No sail was in sight—there had been none—nothing could be seen of ship or sail over the wide circle of the ocean—nothing moved ...

— Ran Away to Sea • Mayne Reid

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