undifferentiated

IPA/ˌʌndɪfəˈrenʃieɪtɪd/
KK[əndɪfɚˈɛnʃiˌetɪd]IPA/ˌʌndɪfəˈrenʃieɪtɪd/

undifferentiated — 形容詞

  • undifferentiatedpositive
  • more undifferentiatedcomparative
  • most undifferentiatedsuperlative

1. Used to describe a group, a mass, or a set whose parts or members are so alike t

1.形容詞C1
釋義

無區別

整體中未區分或無法區分

Used to describe a group, a mass, or a set whose parts or members are so alike that they are not treated as separate or distinct from one another — for example, when a teacher gives a single score for a whole course instead of separate marks for each topic, or when a mixture of ingredients looks like one uniform blob rather than individual pieces.

例句

Wei was frustrated that the survey gave only one undifferentiated score for the entire programme.

Wei 對於這份調查只給整個課程一個無區別的總分感到十分沮喪。

undifferentiated + score; attributive use with singular countable noun

After two hours of simmering, the vegetables had turned into an undifferentiated brown mass.

燉煮兩小時後，蔬菜已變成了一團無區別的褐色糊狀物。

undifferentiated + mass; collocation for describing blended mixtures

常見搭配
  • undifferentiated whole
  • undifferentiated mass
  • undifferentiated lump
  • undifferentiated score
  • undifferentiated block
同義詞
  • uniform

    More positive in tone — suggests consistent quality or appearance, not a lack of useful distinctions

  • homogeneous

    More technical; commonly used in scientific or academic writing about mixtures, populations, or samples

  • indistinguishable

    Focuses on the difficulty of telling two or more items apart, rather than on an undivided whole

反義詞
  • differentiated

    The direct opposite — having clear internal distinctions or specialised parts

  • varied

    Emphasises diversity of parts or members within a group

  • distinct

    Describes parts or sections that are clearly separate from one another

文法句型

undifferentiated + noun

be + undifferentiated

用法筆記

Often appears in formal or academic contexts to criticise a lack of nuance or detail — for example, in phrases like 'undifferentiated mass' or 'undifferentiated lump' the tone is mildly negative, suggesting that important distinctions have been ignored.

常見錯誤

The two coats are undifferentiated colors.
The two coats are the same colour.
Undifferentiated describes a whole that has not been split into parts, NOT two separate things that look alike.
He gave an undifferentiated speech about his travels.
He gave a long, rambling speech about his travels.
Undifferentiated describes a whole lacking internal structure, not a person's speaking style.

2. Describes biological cells or tissue that have not yet developed the specialised

2.形容詞C2
釋義

未分化

細胞或組織尚未具備特定功能

Describes biological cells or tissue that have not yet developed the specialised structures or functions of a mature cell type — for example, stem cells in an embryo that can still turn into skin, nerve, or muscle cells, or tumour cells that look primitive and do not resemble the normal tissue around them.

例句

The research team is studying how undifferentiated stem cells decide which type of nerve cell to become.

研究團隊正在觀察未分化的幹細胞如何決定自己要變成哪一種神經細胞。

technical term: undifferentiated stem cells; subject is a research team

Unlike mature blood cells, undifferentiated cells can divide and develop into many types of tissue.

與成熟的血液細胞不同，未分化的細胞可以分裂並發展成許多種類的組織。

常見搭配
  • undifferentiated cells
  • undifferentiated tissue
  • undifferentiated tumour
  • undifferentiated stem cells
  • undifferentiated carcinoma
同義詞
  • unspecialised

    A more accessible everyday synonym for the same biology concept; 'unspecialised cells' is common in British English

  • primitive

    Used in pathology to describe cells that look like early, undeveloped forms — but can carry a negative judgment outside science

反義詞
  • differentiated

    The direct opposite — cells or tissue that have taken on specialised structures and functions

  • mature

    Describes fully developed cells with a clear identity and role in the body

  • specialised

    Emphasises that the cells have a particular function (e.g., muscle contraction, nerve signalling)

文法句型

undifferentiated + biological noun (cells, tissue, tumour)

用法筆記

A precise technical term in cell biology and pathology. It is the opposite of 'differentiated', which describes cells that have taken on a specific role (e.g., a muscle cell or a nerve cell). In cancer diagnosis, an undifferentiated tumour is often more aggressive and harder to treat because the cells are growing rapidly without a clear identity.

常見錯誤

The paint colours in the room are undifferentiated.
The room has undifferentiated tissue under the microscope.
Sense 2 is strictly about cells and tissue; do not use it for general 'not different' in everyday contexts.

同根字

常見搭配

副詞搭配

  • relatively undifferentiated
  • largely undifferentiated
  • seemingly undifferentiated

常用片語

  • remain undifferentiated
  • become undifferentiated