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Diff vs Compare - What's the difference?

diff | compare |

As verbs the difference between diff and compare

is that diff is (computing) to run a diff program on (files or items) so as to produce a description of the differences between them, as for a patch file while compare is .

As a noun diff

is (slang).

As a proper noun diff

is (computing) a program, historically part of the unix operating system, which compares two files or sets of files and outputs a description of the differences between them.

diff

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (slang)
    • A peach and an apricot? What's the diff ?
  • (computing) Any program which compares two files or sets of files and outputs a description of the differences between them.
  • (computing) The output of a diff program. A diff file.
  • * 2004 , , Great Hackers , Essay:
    • I didn't want to waste people's time telling them things they already knew. It's more efficient just to give them the diffs .
  • (medicine) : differential of types of white blood cell in a complete blood count.
  • (slang)
  • (rock climbing) A difficult route.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (computing) To run a diff program on (files or items) so as to produce a description of the differences between them, as for a patch file.
  • (computing) To compare two files or other objects, manually or otherwise.

    • Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • (computing) A program, historically part of the Unix operating system, which compares two files or sets of files and outputs a description of the differences between them.

    • See also

    * (computing ) patch

    Related terms

    * (computing ) diff file

    compare

    English

    Verb

    (compar)
  • (label) To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with' Y, one might have found it similar '''to''' Y or different ' from Y.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
    • , chapter=6, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • (label) To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"].
  • * (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
    • Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counsellors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it.
  • To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).
  • (label) To be similar (often used in the negative ).
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • Shall pack horsescompare with Caesar's?
  • (label) To get; to obtain.
  • * (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
    • To fill his bags, and richesse to compare .

    Related terms

    * comparable * comparative * comparison * cf

    See also

    * contrast

    Noun

    (-)
  • comparison
  • * Milton
    • His mighty champion, strong beyond compare .
  • * Waller
    • Their small galleys may not hold compare with our tall ships.
  • illustration by comparison; simile
  • * Shakespeare
    • Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare .
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