1. To be aware of a difference between two or more people, groups, or things, or to show that they are different from each other: "Henry learned as a child to distinguish between what was good and that which was bad."
2. To be a feature or characteristic which shows that one person, group, or thing is different from another: "Do you know what distinguishes dogs from wolves?"
3. To be able to recognize or to identify someone or something: "William could barely distinguish where the road was in the thick fog."
4. To make oneself well known because of some outstanding performance; especially, in a profession, an art, or in an organization.
5. Etymology: from Middle French distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, or directly from Latin distinguere, "to separate between, to separate by making a very small hole", from dis-, "apart" + -stinguere, "to puncture" or "to pierce".