compare, compare to, compare with, contrast

名詞 contrast:

1. the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
   同義詞：direct contrast
2. the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
3. a conceptual separation or distinction
   同義詞：line, dividing line, demarcation
4. the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
5. 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)

動詞 contrast:

1. put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
2. to show differences when compared; be different
   同義詞：counterpoint

1. The coastal areas have mild winters, but by contrast the central plains become extremely cold.
   沿海地區(qū)的冬天天氣暖和，可是相比之下中部平原卻異常寒冷。
2. The black furnishings provide an interesting contrast to the white walls.
   黑色家具和白色墻壁形成很有意思的對比。

con.trast

v.（動詞）
con.trast.ed,con.trast.ing,con.trasts
v.tr.（及物動詞）
To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences:
使對照：為了顯出或強調(diào)差異而使…對比：
例句：
an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.
一篇比較城市和鄉(xiāng)村生活的文章；將這部電腦與品質(zhì)差的機型對比

v.intr.（不及物動詞）
To show differences when compared:
比較之下顯出區(qū)別：
例句：
siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
在興趣和能力上迥然相異的兄弟（姐妹）；與黑色背影形成鮮明對比的顏色

n.（名詞）

The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
對照：對比的行為；通過對比突出不同的實體或物體
The state of being contrasted:
對比，對照：對比之下顯示差別的狀態(tài)：
例句：
red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
紅草莓與雪形成鮮明的對比

A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared:
差別懸殊：被比較的實體或物體之間的差異，尤指懸殊差別：
例句：
the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
北方話與南方話有顯著的差別

One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another:
差別明顯：與另一事物炯然相異的一件事物：
例句：
My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
我的新學校比以前的好多了

The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
明暗對比：在一件藝術(shù)品中將相對的要素（如顏色、形狀、線條等）放在一起使用以產(chǎn)生強烈的對比效果
The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
反差：在攝影或電視圖象的畫面中明處和暗處之間的亮度差別

來源：
French contraster
法語 contraster
from Italian contrastare
源自 意大利語 contrastare
from Medieval Latin contr3st3re
源自 中世紀拉丁語 contr3st3re
Latin contr3- [contra-]
拉丁語 contr3- [前綴，表.相反.]
Latin st3re [to stand] * see st3-
拉丁語 st3re [站立] *參見 st3-

【引伸】
contrast.able
adj.（形容詞）
contrast.ingly
adv.（副詞）
The nouncontrast may be followed by between, with, or to :
名詞contrast 后面可以跟 between,with 或 to ：
例句：
There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works.
他的早期作品和晚期作品截然不同。

例句：
In contrast with (or less frequently, to ) his early works, the later plays are brittle and highly theatrical.
與其早期的作品相比（或不經(jīng)常用的 to ） ，其晚期的戲劇敏感且極富戲劇性。

Whencontrast is used as a transitive verb, bothwith and to may follow, thoughwith is more common:
當contrast 被用作及物動詞時， 后面可跟with 和 to ， 但with 更為普遍：
例句：
He contrasts the naturalistic early plays with (or to ) the brittle later comedies.
他早期的自然主義風格戲劇與（或者可用 to ） 敏感的晚期喜劇形成鮮明的對比