di·scern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ ●○○ verb [transitiveT] formal 1 LOOK ATTHINK ABOUTto notice or understand something by thinking about it carefully 〔仔细思考之后〕觉察出,弄清楚,辨明discern what/where/why etc Officials were keen to discern how much public support there was. 官员们急切地想了解公众的支持率有多高。
► see thesaurus at recognize 2 to be able to see something by looking carefully 〔费劲地〕看出,辨认出 SYN perceive We could just discern a town in the distance. 我们依稀看到远处有一座城镇。
—discernible adjectiveadj
—discernibly adverbadv
n Discern is not used in the progressive. You say: I discern a slight difference.
✗Don’t say: I am discerning a slight difference.