contrast

compare, compare to, compare with, contrast

名词 contrast:

1. the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
   同义词：direct contrast
2. the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
3. a conceptual separation or distinction
   同义词：line, dividing line, demarcation
4. the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
5. 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)

动词 contrast:

1. put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
2. to show differences when compared; be different
   同义词：counterpoint

1. The coastal areas have mild winters, but by contrast the central plains become extremely cold.
   沿海地区的冬天天气暖和，可是相比之下中部平原却异常寒冷。
2. The black furnishings provide an interesting contrast to the white walls.
   黑色家具和白色墙壁形成很有意思的对比。

con.trast

v.（动词）
con.trast.ed,con.trast.ing,con.trasts
v.tr.（及物动词）
To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences:
使对照：为了显出或强调差异而使…对比：
例句：
an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.
一篇比较城市和乡村生活的文章；将这部电脑与品质差的机型对比

v.intr.（不及物动词）
To show differences when compared:
比较之下显出区别：
例句：
siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
在兴趣和能力上迥然相异的兄弟（姐妹）；与黑色背影形成鲜明对比的颜色

n.（名词）

The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
对照：对比的行为；通过对比突出不同的实体或物体
The state of being contrasted:
对比，对照：对比之下显示差别的状态：
例句：
red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
红草莓与雪形成鲜明的对比

A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared:
差别悬殊：被比较的实体或物体之间的差异，尤指悬殊差别：
例句：
the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
北方话与南方话有显著的差别

One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another:
差别明显：与另一事物炯然相异的一件事物：
例句：
My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
我的新学校比以前的好多了

The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
明暗对比：在一件艺术品中将相对的要素（如颜色、形状、线条等）放在一起使用以产生强烈的对比效果
The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
反差：在摄影或电视图象的画面中明处和暗处之间的亮度差别

来源：
French contraster
法语 contraster
from Italian contrastare
源自 意大利语 contrastare
from Medieval Latin contr3st3re
源自 中世纪拉丁语 contr3st3re
Latin contr3- [contra-]
拉丁语 contr3- [前缀，表.相反.]
Latin st3re [to stand] * see st3-
拉丁语 st3re [站立] *参见 st3-

【引伸】
contrast.able
adj.（形容词）
contrast.ingly
adv.（副词）
The nouncontrast may be followed by between, with, or to :
名词contrast 后面可以跟 between,with 或 to ：
例句：
There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works.
他的早期作品和晚期作品截然不同。

例句：
In contrast with (or less frequently, to ) his early works, the later plays are brittle and highly theatrical.
与其早期的作品相比（或不经常用的 to ） ，其晚期的戏剧敏感且极富戏剧性。

Whencontrast is used as a transitive verb, bothwith and to may follow, thoughwith is more common:
当contrast 被用作及物动词时， 后面可跟with 和 to ， 但with 更为普遍：
例句：
He contrasts the naturalistic early plays with (or to ) the brittle later comedies.
他早期的自然主义风格戏剧与（或者可用 to ） 敏感的晚期喜剧形成鲜明的对比