discern

discern (someone or something) from (someone or something)

1. To recognize the differences between people or things. I have a hard time discerning Jim from Greg, but they are identical twins after all. You can discern hydrangea from phlox by looking at their leaves.
2. To gain information from someone or something. Her message was so cryptic that I couldn't discern anything from it—do you know what's going on?
See also: discern

discern between (someone or something) and (someone or something)

To recognize the differences between people or things. I have a hard time discerning between Jim and Greg, but they are identical twins after all. You can discern between hydrangea and phlox by looking at their leaves.
See also: and, between, discern
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

discern between someone or something and someone or something

to detect the difference between people and things. I cannot discern between the dark trees and the dark sky behind them. I cannot discern between the person and the background.
See also: and, between, discern

discern someone or something from something (else)

to detect the difference between someone or something and something else. I can hardly discern Tom from the busy background in this picture. I can't discern anything from that cluttered scene.
See also: discern

discern something from someone or something

to learn or determine something from someone or something. We discerned a lot from the eyewitnesses. We discerned a lot from our discussions with the past president.
See also: discern
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • discern (someone or something) from (someone or something)
  • discern from
  • discerning
  • discern between (someone or something) and (someone or something)
  • discern between and
  • discriminate between
  • discriminate between (someone or something)
  • (as) different as night and day
  • different as night and day
  • differ in
References in periodicals archive
Fifty (25 in Turkish and 25 in English) websites were evaluated for each term using three tools (DISCERN, LIDA, and AChecker).
The Accuracy of Information about Orthodontics Available on the Internet
We used three tools to evaluate the quality of each website: the DISCERN quality index tool, the Flesch Ease of Reading Score (FRES), and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) readability test.
Evaluating the quality and readability of Internet information sources regarding the treatment of swallowing disorders
Transitioning the power of the parish from the bishop and priest to the baptized priestly people is a challenge championed by those who discern, nurture and empower all baptized members.
A call to ministry
Results using the DISCERN instrument indicate that only 32.4% of these websites had clear aims with respect to the topic and the potential audience.
Systematic review of internet patient information on colorectal cancer surgery
In this study, we have used the HONcode, DISCERN Plus and LIDA tools to review the quality of health information on urologists' websites across the U.S.
Urologists in cyberspace: A review of the quality of health information from American urologists' websites using three validated tools
In order to model the process, Grasemann and Miikkulainen began by teaching a series of simple stories to DISCERN. The stories were assimilated into DISCERN's memory in much the way the human brain stores information-not as distinct units, but as statistical relationships of words, sentences, scripts and stories.
Scientists Give Computers 'Schizophrenia'
The main reason that educators are concerned about students' ability to discern trusted, reliable information in their online research, although most want them to do such research, is that there is simply too much information on the Internet.
Trust on Internet is questioned
Most of the contributions strive to discern the editorial activity that connected diverse parts, especially around the problematic areas involving the relationship between Deuteronomic and Priestly material.
Das Deuteronomium zwischen Pentateuch und deuteronomistischem Geschichtswerk
Sometimes the connection between celebrant and source material is too esoteric to discern without a cheat sheet--live snarls help construct the paean to Strangers on a Train author Patricia Highsmith--but the results are compelling regardless.--Kurt B.
Ten reasons to hit repeat
"We cannot presume that members of Congress cannot discern right from wrong," he observed.
Church's political role debated in Philippines
The new system, which is based on Versatile Volumetric Vision, a high-functional 3-D vision system developed by AIST, can automatically discern various ampules and syringes and sort them out with precision.
AIST, Ookuma Electronic, Applied Vision Systems Jointly Develop Advanced Robotic System for Handling Drug Ampules
By knowing a leader's innate behavior, Prince writes, outsiders can discern a company's preferred approach to creating value.
The Three Financial Styles of Very Successful Leaders: Strategic Approaches to Identifying the Growth Drivers of Every Company
How can we continuously discern the difference between center and periphery and of equal importance; how do we discern what constitutes the best expressions of the center?
Editorial
Inquiry, exploration and valuing were elements of the appreciative inquiry process used in this year's Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Leadership Advisory Council to discern the strengths of Extension and its personnel and to help envision a vital future that builds on those strengths.
Extension Committee on Organization and Policy Leadership Advisory Council, May 21-23