Anthropologists have used these obvious differences to distinguish races, in an effort to catalog human variation. 请问这句中的"distinguish races"是词典中的哪一个意思？

verb

1.[ with obj .] recognize or treat ( someone or something ) as different 识别；区分

The child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy .这个孩子完全可以将现实和幻想区分开来。

2. [ no obj .] perceive or point out a difference 感觉到差别；指出差别

We must distinguish between two kinds of holiday. 我们必须区别两种节日的不同之处。

3. manage to discern ( something barely perceptible )辨别出（细微之处）

It was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes. 太暗了，只能辨别出他们模糊的身影。

4. be a characteristic or identifying mark or property of 使区别于他物

What distinguishes sport from games? 运动和游戏区别在哪里？

[ as adj. distinguishing]his distinauishing 他的辨别标记中包括一根残废的大拇指。

5.( distinguish oneself ) make oneself

prominent and worthy of respect by one ' s behaviour or achievements 使杰出，使受尊重

Many distinguished themselves in the fight against Hitler. 许多人在反对希特勒的战争中享有盛名。

我认为可能是第一个含义，recognize or treat ( someone or something ) as different，可是这个意思一般是distinguish sth from sth.

请问后面不加 from sth可以单独用吗？而且这个races是复数，我感觉应该是distinguish between races. 不知道这个句子为什么写成这样。