the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
"in contrast to"
"by contrast"
the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
"The teacher asked us to contrast the two historical accounts to see where their facts differed."
a conceptual separation or distinction
"there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity"
the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
"The bright red door creates a striking contrast against the pale blue siding, making the entrance pop immediately."
the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
"The photographer adjusted the development time to increase the contrast, ensuring the deep blacks and bright whites stood out sharply on the final print."
A difference in lightness, brightness and/or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable.
"The stark contrast between the deep navy shirt and the bright white collar made his outfit pop even on a cloudy day."
The degree of this difference.
"The stark contrast between the bright sunlight and the deep shadows made the landscape look dramatic."
In plain English: Contrast is the difference between two things that makes them stand out from each other.
"The stark contrast between the bright sunlight and the dark shadows made the photo look dramatic."
Usage: Use "contrast" to describe a sharp difference in appearance, such as how dark text stands out against a white background. It refers specifically to the visual distinction created when two elements differ significantly in lightness, brightness, or color.
put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
"The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"
to show differences when compared; be different
"the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
To set in opposition in order to show the difference or differences between.
"The photographer placed a bright white flower next to dark soil to contrast their colors and highlight how vividly they stood out against each other."
In plain English: To contrast means to show how two things are different from each other.
"The dark suit contrasts sharply with his white shirt."
Usage: Use contrast as a verb when you place two things side by side specifically to highlight their differences. Avoid using it simply to mean "compare," as comparison can include finding similarities, whereas contrast focuses solely on opposition.
The word entered English from the French verb contraster, which originally meant to resist or withstand. It ultimately derives from the Latin phrase for "standing against" something.