1. (

• differentiation ,
• distinction

) a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes; "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation" ;

2. (

• differentiation ,

) the mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function ;

3. (

• specialization ,
• specialisation ,
• differentiation

) (biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function; "cell differentiation in the developing embryo" ;