contrast
n. C / Un. a clear difference between two things when you look at them together. You use this to show how one thing is very different from another.
n. the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association. Often used to highlight opposing qualities or visual differences.
There is a sharp contrast between the two colors.
The contrast between the wealthy city center and the poor suburbs is very obvious to visitors.
The author uses the sharp contrast between the protagonist's humble beginnings and his eventual rise to power to explore themes of social mobility and ambition.
From French contraster, from Italian contrastare (“to resist", "to withstand”), from Vulgar Latin *contrāstāre, from Latin contrā (“against”) + stō, stāre (“to stand”).
Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'to'. When used as an uncountable noun, it refers to the general quality of difference.
the contrast of the two ideasthe contrast between the two ideasWhen comparing two distinct things, 'between' is the standard preposition used with this noun.