distinguish in WordNet English dictionary

1. identify as in botany or biology, for example
   identify  discover  key  key out  distinguish  describe  name 
   
2. mark as different
   "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
   distinguish  separate  differentiate  secern  secernate  severalize  severalise  tell  tell apart 
   
3. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
   "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers"
   distinguish  mark  differentiate 
   
4. detect with the senses
   "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph"
   spot  recognize  recognise  distinguish  discern  pick out  make out  tell apart 
   
5. make conspicuous or noteworthy
   signalize  signalise  distinguish