/ˈdɪfrəns ||; ˈdɪfrəns/noun1 [C] a difference (between A and B) the way that people or things are not the same or the way that sb/sth has changed 差别；差异；不同之处: What's the difference between this computer and that cheaper one? 这台计算机与那台较便宜的有什么不同？From a distance it's hard to tell the difference between the twins. 从远处看很难区分这对双胞胎。
2 [C,U] difference (in sth) (between A and B) the amount by which people or things are not the same or by which sb/sth has changed （数量上的）差，差额，差距: There's an age difference of three years between the two children. 这两名儿童相差三岁。There's very little difference in price since last year. 去年以来价格的变化不大。We gave a 30% deposit and must pay the difference when the work is finished (= the rest of the money). 我们付了30%作为订金，余额则须在完工时缴付。
3 [C] a disagreement that is not very serious 不同的意见；分歧；轻微的争执: All couples have their differencesfrom time to time. 所有夫妻都免不了偶尔有不同意见。There was a difference of opinion over how much we owed. 我们究竟欠多少，对这个问题存在不同看法。
make a, some, etc difference (to sb/sth) to have an effect (on sb/sth) 对…有影响；对…起作用:
Marriage made a big difference to her life. 婚姻在很大程度上改变了她的生活。 make no difference (to sb/sth);not make any difference to not be important (to sb/sth); to have no effect 对…并不重要；对…无影响:
It makes no difference to us if the baby is a girl or a boy. 对我们来说生男生女都一样。 split the difference→
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