What do spectrum and dichotomy mean?

spectrum - Think of something like a time-line or a number line with many individual points along that line. Many possibilities are possible within a spectrum. There are many choices or many answers which "fit." They may even overlap. There are gradual shades of distinction.

dichotomy - Think of something like a tree with 2 very distinct branches. The differences are very clear. There are 2 concepts which occur together yet seem to be in opposition or going in different directions. It doesn't really seem to make sense for them to co-exist, but they do.

Edit:

Example of a spectrum - When you say someone is a bad driver, there is a whole range of what that might mean, from just a little careless all the way to extremely dangerous.

Example of a dichotomy - When parents are strict with their children, it can be a sign of how much they actually love their children.

A spectrum can also apply to other things besides light, such as behaviors. Psychiatrists, for instance, often refer to a "spectrum" of behaviors that qualify mental illnesses, ranging from mild to extreme.

Here is "Spectrum" in several different languages (if you speak one of them, I hope this helps):

"spectrum

n spectrum [ˈspektrəm]

1 the visible spectrum. spektrum طَيْف спектър spektrum spektrum das Spektrum φάσμα espectro spekter بينايي kirjo spectre צִבעֵי הַקֶשֶת वर्णक्रम spektar színkép spektrum litróf, skali spettro スペクトル 스펙트럼 spektras spektrs spektrum spectrum spektrum widmo espectro spectru спектр spektrum spekter spektar spektrum แถบสีหลากหลายสีที่สามารถมองเห็นได้ tayf (可見)光譜 спектр عینی طیف hình ảnh （可见）光谱

2 the full range (of something) The actress's voice was capable of expressing the whole spectrum of emotion. spektrum سِلْسِلَه، نِطاق спектър rejstřík register die Skala εύρος, γκάμα espectro, gama astmik, skaala طيف asteikko spectre סְפֶקטרוּם श्रृंखला raspon spektrum rangkaian litróf spettro 範囲 범위 gama, diapazonas diapazons; apjoms; gamma lingkungan spectrum hele registeret wachlarz gama gamă диапазон škála, stupnica spekter spektar spektrum, skala ขอบเขตหรือแนวของ...ที่สมบูรณ์ yelpaze, dizi 範圍 діапазон کسی چیز کی مکمل ترتیب کا نقشہ một chuỗi đầy đủ, chuỗi rộng 范围

From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spectrum

A dichotomy can also mean the existence of two opposite traits within a person. For instance, you could say that "On one hand, she is very kind, but on the other hand, she can be cruel." This would be a dichotomy of behavior.

It can also mean "Divided into two opposing parts".

It applies to other areas of life too:

"1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.

2.division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups: a dichotomy between thought and action. "

So: In "Botany. a mode of branching by constant forking, as in some stems, in veins of leaves, etc.

In "Astronomy. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half of its disk is visible." (1)

. Spectrum is :an array of entities,as light waves or

particles, ordered in accordance with the magnitudes of a common physical property,as wavelength

Dichotomy: division into two parts,kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.

i agree with Reader4Life...