Learn English – the difference between yesterday and one day ago

When used in reference to time, date almost exclusively refers to a specific 24 hour period that begins at midnight and ends at 11:59pm. When used this way, the date will be specified with a year (CE or BCE), the name of the month, and the number of the day within that month. The day number is a positive whole number that may be used in ordinal form (first, second, third, etc.) The name of the weekday is rarely referenced when referring to a date.

When setting up an appointment, you typically use the term 'date' if the appointment is a long time away or in a formal business setting. When making appointments with friends, especially if they are happening within one week's time, you would use the term 'day'.

You ask a friend "What day do you want to have lunch?" The receptionist at your doctor's office will ask you "What date would you like to have your next appointment?"

Say the following aloud, being very careful to say each syllable very clearly and precisely: feb - you - air - eee.

Now do the same for this: feb - rue - air - eee.

Your enunciation was good with both, though your pronunciation was only correct for the second.