dif·fer /ˈdɪfə $ -ər/ ●●○ W3 verb [intransitiveI] 1 DIFFICULTto be different from something in some way 不同,不一样,有区别 The two systems differ in many respects. 这两个系统在许多方面不同。
differ from People differ from one another in their ability to handle stress. 各人应对压力的能力有所不同。
differ between The symptoms did not differ between the two groups. 这两组的症状没有区别。
differ widely/greatly/significantly etc We soon found that prices differed enormously. 我们很快就发现价格相差很大。
Experts have differing views on the subject. 在这个问题上专家们意见不同。
2 DISAGREEif two people or groups differ about something, they have opposite opinions 有异议,〔意见〕有分歧 SYN disagreediffer about/on/over The two lawyers differed about how to present the case. 对于如何陈述案情,两名律师意见不同。
► see thesaurus at disagree 3. agree to differ DISAGREEto stop arguing with someone and accept that you will never agree 承认意见分歧,同意保留不同意见agree to differ• They were tolerably happy together, as marriages seem to go, a happiness achieved partly by agreeing to differ.• We might as well agree to differ and get along as well as we can.• If after discussion we agree to differ, both versions will be recorded. 4. I beg to differ spoken formalDISAGREE used to say that you disagree with someone 恕我不同意;抱歉,我不赞同I beg to differ• Selling some of course. I beg to differ.• Well having discussed this matter with many typical users of word processors, I beg to differ.
n COLLOCATIONSdiffer + ADVERBdiffer greatly/enormouslyModern teaching methods differ greatly from those fifty years ago.
differ significantly (=in an important way)The second set of test results did not differ significantly from the first.
differ considerably/widely/substantially (=greatly)Opinions differ widely on the best way to do this.
differ sharply/noticeably/markedly (=in a very noticeable way)Ways of negotiating differ markedly across the Atlantic.
differ radically (=very greatly)The new car differed radically from the earlier model.
differ fundamentally (=in a very basic way)These paintings differed fundamentally from his earlier work.
differ slightlyPrices differ slightly from one shop to another.