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Discern vs Record - What's the difference?

discern | record |

As a verb discern

is to detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.

As a noun record is

record.

discern

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1875 , author=Jules Verne , title=The Survivors of the Chancellor , chapter=1 citation , passage=Meanwhile the brig had altered her tack, and was moving slowly to the east. Three hours later and the keenest eye could not have discerned her top-sails above the horizon.}}
  • To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1842 , author=Charles Dickens , title=American Notes for General Circulation citation , passage=If they discern' any evidences of wrong-going in any direction that I have indicated, they will acknowledge that I had reason in what I wrote. If they ' discern no such thing, they will consider me altogether mistaken.}}
  • To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1651 , author=Thomas Hobbes , title=Leviathan citation , passage=The severity of judgement, they say, makes men censorious and unapt to pardon the errors and infirmities of other men: and on the other side, celerity of fancy makes the thoughts less steady than is necessary to discern exactly between right and wrong.}}
    He was too young to discern right from wrong.
  • To perceive differences.

    • Derived terms

    * discernible * discernment * indiscernible

    Anagrams

    * *

    record

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) , from recorder. See .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An item of information put into a temporary or permanent physical medium.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=John T. Jost , title=Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)? , volume=100, issue=2, page=162 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record .}}
    The person had a record of the interview so she could review her notes.
    The tourist's photographs and the tape of the police call provide a record of the crime.
  • Any instance of a physical medium on which information was put for the purpose of preserving it and making it available for future reference.
    • We have no record of you making this payment to us.
  • A vinyl disc on which sound is recorded and may be replayed on a phonograph.
    • I still like records better than CDs.
  • (computing) A set of data relating to a single individual or item.
  • The most extreme known value of some achievement, particularly in competitive events.
    • The heat and humidity were both new records .
    The team set a new record for most points scored in a game.
    Synonyms
    * log * (information put into a lasting physical medium) * (vinyl disk) disc/disk * (most extreme known value)
    Derived terms
    * activation record * for the record * of record * on record * off the record * on the record * record-breaking * public record * world record

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a record of information.
    • I wanted to record every detail of what happened, for the benefit of future generations.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years.}}
  • Specifically, to make an audio or video recording of.
    • Within a week they had recorded both the song and the video for it.
  • * '>citation
  • (legal) To give legal status to by making an official public record.
    • When the deed was recorded , we officially owned the house.
  • To fix in a medium, usually in a tangible medium.
  • To make an audio, video, or multimedia recording.
  • (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To repeat; to practice.
  • (ambitransitive, obsolete) To sing or repeat a tune.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • * W. Browne
    • whether the birds or she recorded best
  • * Fairfax
    • They longed to see the day, to hear the lark / Record her hymns, and chant her carols blest.
  • (obsolete) To reflect; to ponder.
  • * Fuller
    • Praying all the way, and recording upon the words which he before had read.
    Derived terms
    * recordable * recorder * recording

    Antonyms

    * (make a record of information) erase * (make an audio or video recording of) erase