dis·crim·i·nate [ di skrímmə nàyt ](past and past participledis·crim·i·nat·ed, present participledis·crim·i·nat·ing, 3rd person present singulardis·crim·i·nates)
verb
Definition:
1. intransitive verb treat group unfairly because of prejudice: to treat one person or group worse than others or better than others, usually because of a prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender
2. transitive and intransitive verb discern difference: to recognize or identify a difference could not discriminate between red and green
3. intransitive verb be aware of differences: to pay attention to subtle differences and exercise judgment and taste
[Early 17th century. < Latin discriminat-, past participle of discriminare "to divide" < discrimin- "division" < discernere (see discern)]
