dis‧tinc‧tion W3 AC / dɪstɪŋkʃ ə n / 名词

1 difference [可数和不可数名词] a clear difference or separation between two similar things

distinction between

the distinction between formal and informal language

clear/sharp distinction

There is often no clear distinction between an allergy and food intolerance.

make/draw a distinction

The Act makes no distinction between children and adults (= it treats them as if they were the same ) .

Register

In written English, people often use draw a distinction rather than make a distinction , because it sounds more formal:

The law draws a distinction between temporary and permanent employees.

2 excellence [不可数名词] the quality of being excellent and important :

Eliot’s distinction as a poet

3 being special [单数形式] the quality of being special in some way

have/earn/achieve etc the distinction of doing something

At that time, it had the distinction of being the largest bridge in the UK.

The US enjoys the dubious distinction of being the lawsuit capital of the world.

4 result [可数和不可数名词] a special mark given to a student whose work is excellent

with distinction

He obtained a law doctorate with distinction.

COLLOCATIONS

动词

make a distinction ( also draw a distinction formal ) (= say or show that one exists ) It isn’t easy to make a distinction between these two words.

blur the distinction between something and something (= make it less clear ) Both sides in the war had been blurring the distinction between military and civilian targets.

see a distinction (= recognize that one exists ) He saw no distinction between religious beliefs and superstition.

形容词

a clear distinction The legal system makes a clear distinction between adults and children.

a fine/subtle distinction (= small ) Language enables us to make fine distinctions between similar ideas.

a sharp distinction (= very clear ) The President drew a sharp distinction between his party and the Republican Party.

an important/crucial distinction There is an important distinction between these two types of cancer.

a fundamental distinction (= a basic one ) There is a fundamental distinction between authors and readers.

a useful distinction He makes a useful distinction between the two theories.