differentiate-v; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: Mark as different; separate by some set of criteria.

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] DIFFERENTIATE NP2[patient]

Examples:
We differentiated several kinds of maple in the wood pile.
Scientists differentiate three species of trout in the lake.
I can't differentiate these two colors.

Mappings:
VerbNet: separate-23.1-1
FrameNet: Differentiation
PropBank: differentiate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: Be a distinctive feature.

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[topic] DIFFERENTIATE NP2[patient] PP

Examples:
His modesty differentiates him from his peers.
Humility differentiates the grain from the chaff.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: (Cause to) become different or aquire a different character, possibly during development.

Examples:
He differentiated the line, making two types of bolts.
He caused the corn to differentiate.
Species differentiate over time, causing evolution.

Mappings:
VerbNet: separate-23.1-1
FrameNet: Differentiation
PropBank: differentiate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4, 5, 6

Sense Number 4: Calculate a derivative; take the derivative (of).

Examples:
If we differentiate the equation we get its derivative.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3