the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; "in contrast to", "by contrast"
put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; "The middle school teacher contrasted her best student's work with that of her weakest student"
to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control; "automatic transmission"; "a budget deficit that caused automatic spending cuts"
like the unthinking functioning of a machine; "an automatic `thank you'"; "machinelike efficiency"
without volition or conscious control; "the automatic shrinking of the pupils of the eye in strong light"; "a reflex knee jerk"; "sneezing is reflexive"