Dictionary Definition
compare n : qualities that are comparable; "no
comparison between the two books"; "beyond compare" [syn: comparison, equivalence, comparability]
Verb
1 examine and note the similarities or
differences of; "John compared his haircut to his friend's"; "We
compared notes after we had both seen the movie"
2 be comparable; "This car does not compare with
our line of Mercedes"
3 consider or describe as similar, equal, or
analogous; "We can compare the Han dynasty to the Romans"; "You
cannot equate success in financial matters with greed" [syn:
liken, equate]
4 to form the comparative or superlative form on
an adjective or adverb
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
-
- /kəmˈpɛɹ/
Verb
- To assess the similarities between two things ["to compare X
and Y"] or between one thing and another ["to compare X with Y"].
Having made the comparison with X, one might have found it
similar to X or different from X.
- Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs
- Compare the tiger's coloration with that of the zebra
- You can't compare my problems and yours
- Compare the tiger's coloration with that of the zebra
- Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs
- To form the
three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).
- We compare good as good, better, best
- To be similar (often used in the negative)
- A sapling and a fully-grown oak tree do not compare
Translations
To assess the similarities between two things or
between one thing and another
- Danish: sammenligne
- Finnish: verrata, vertailla
- German: vergleichen
- Hebrew: להשוות (le'hashvot)
to form the three degrees of comparison of
to be similar
- Danish: stemme overens
Related terms
See also
French
Verb
- Form of First-person singular present subjunctive, comparer
- Form of Third-person singular present subjunctive, comparer
- Form of Second-person singular imperative, comparer
Italian
Verb
compare- Form of Third-person singular present tense, comparire
Synonyms
Extensive Definition
Comparison may refer to:
compare in German: Vergleich
compare in French: Comparaison
compare in Dutch: Vergelijking
compare in Simple English:
Comparison
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
admit of comparison, analogize, ape, appear like, approach, approximate, assimilate, associate, balance, be commensurable, be
comparable, be like, be redolent of, bear resemblance, bracket, bring into analogy,
bring into comparison, bring to mind, call to mind, call up,
collate, come close,
come near, come up to, compare and contrast, compare to, compare
with, compete with, confront, consider, contemplate, contrast, copy, correlate, correspond, counterfeit, counterpose, draw a
comparison, draw a parallel, equal, evoke, examine, favor, follow, imitate, inspect, juxtapose, liken, liken to, look like,
match, match up with,
measure against, measure up to, metaphorize, mimic, mirror, near, nearly reproduce, not compare
with, not tell apart, observe, oppose, paragon, parallel, partake of, place
against, ponder, refer, relate, remind one of, resemble, rival, run a comparison, savor of,
scan, scrutinize, seem like, set in
contrast, set in opposition, set off against, set over against,
similize, simulate, size up, smack of,
sound like, stack up with, study, suggest, take after, touch, vie, vie with, view together,
weigh, weigh
against