difference

noun (NOT THE SAME)

/ˈdɪf.ər.əns/

/-ɚ-/

Definition

A2 [C or U] the way in which two or more things which you are comparing are not the same: What's the difference between an ape and a monkey? Is there any significant difference in quality between these two items?Different and difference make a (big) difference B2 (also make all the difference) › to improve a situation (a lot): Exercise can make a big difference to your state of health. Putting up some new wallpaper has made all the difference to the place.Making things betterBecoming better not make any difference B2 (also not make the slightest difference) › to not change a situation in any way: You can ask him again if you like, but it won't make any difference - he'll still say no. It makes no difference where you put the aerial, the TV picture's still lousy.Similar and the sameDescribing people with the same qualities with a difference › describes something unusual, and more interesting or better than other things of the same type: Try new Cremetti - the ice cream with a difference.Unique and unusualGood, better and best in terms of quality

(Definition of difference noun (NOT THE SAME) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)