contrast (contrasts plural & 3rd person present) (contrasting present participle) (contrasted past tense & past participle )
The noun is pronounced kɒntrɑ:st, -træst. The verb is pronounced kəntrɑ:st, -træst.
1 n-var A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them.
oft N between pl-n
...the contrast between town and country..., The two visitors provided a startling contrast in appearance..., Silk was used with wool for contrast.
2 You say by contrast or in contrast, or in contrast to something, to show that you are mentioning a very different situation from the one you have just mentioned.
by contrast/in contrast/in contrast to sth phrase PHR with cl
The private sector, by contrast, has plenty of money to spend..., In contrast, the lives of girls in well-to-do families were often very sheltered..., In contrast to similar services in France and Germany, Intercity rolling stock is very rarely idle.
3 If one thing is in contrastto another, it is very different from it.
in contrast phrase v-link PHR, usu PHR to n
His public statements have always been in marked contrast to those of his son...
4 n-count If one thing is a contrastto another, it is very different from it.
oft N to/with n
The boy's room is a complete contrast to the guest room., ...a country of great contrasts.
5 verb If you contrast one thing with another, you point out or consider the differences between those things.
She contrasted the situation then with the present crisis... V n with n
In this section we contrast four possible broad approaches. V pl-n
6 v-recip If one thing contrastswith another, it is very different from it.
Johnson's easy charm contrasted sharply with the prickliness of his boss... V with n
Paint the wall in a contrasting colour. V-ing, Also pl-n V
7 n-uncount Contrast is the degree of difference between the darker and lighter parts of a photograph, television picture, or painting.
