Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Difference \Dif"fer*ence\, n. [F. diff['e]rence, L.
   differentia.]
   1. The act of differing; the state or measure of being
      different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity;
      unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in
      paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what
      is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?

            Differencies of administration, but the same Lord.
                                                  --1 Cor. xii.
                                                  5.

   2. Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel;
      hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.

            What was the difference? It was a contention in
            public.                               --Shak.

            Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving
            the old warden and the young constable to compose
            their difference as they could.       --T. Ellwood.

Difference \Dif"fer*ence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Differenced}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Differencing}.]
   To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different;
   to distinguish.

         Thou mayest difference gods from men.    --Chapman.

         Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are
         not differenced from the meanest subject. --Milton.

         So completely differenced by their separate and
         individual characters that we at once acknowledge them
         as distinct persons.                     --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

Source : WordNet®

difference
     n 1: the quality of being unlike or dissimilar; "there are many
          differences between jazz and rock" [ant: {sameness}]
     2: a variation that deviates from the standard or norm; "the
        deviation from the mean" [syn: {deviation}, {divergence},
        {departure}]
     3: a disagreement or argument about something important; "he
        had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable
        differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans
        and Democrats" [syn: {dispute}, {difference of opinion}, {conflict}]
     4: a significant change; "the difference in her is amazing";
        "his support made a real difference"
     5: the number that remains after subtraction; the number that
        when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend [syn: {remainder}]