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verb

diff

dihf
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Diff (verb) means to compare two files or pieces of text and highlight what’s different between them. Example: “He diffed the two versions to see what had changed.”

verb
1
To compare two files or pieces of text and highlight what’s different between them.
"He diffed the two versions to see what had changed."
noun
1
A summary or listing of the differences between two files or versions of code.
"She reviewed the diff before approving the pull request."

How to use diff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishComputing jargon for comparing two versions of something and showing what changed.

When to use it

Technical/informal — mostly used by programmers.

Common pairings
review the diff diff two files
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Word forms

Third person singular
diffs
Past tense
diffed
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He _____ the two versions to see what had changed.

Rhymes for diff

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Frequently asked questions

What does “diff” mean?
The word “diff” means to compare two files or pieces of text and highlight what’s different between them. In plain terms, computing jargon for comparing two versions of something and showing what changed.
How do you pronounce “diff”?
“Diff” is pronounced dihf (/dɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “diff” in a sentence?
Here is “diff” used in a sentence: “He diffed the two versions to see what had changed.”
What part of speech is “diff”?
Depending on how it is used, “diff” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “diff” have?
“Diff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to compare two files or pieces of text and highlight what’s different between them.

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