contrast- meaning?

1. The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.

2. The state of being contrasted: red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.

3. A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared: the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.

4. One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another: My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.

5. The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.

6. The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.

7. Linguistics. A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.