proportion

1 the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole [syn: proportionality]

2 magnitude or extent; "a building of vast proportions" [syn: dimension]

3 balance among the parts of something [syn: symmetry] [ant: disproportion]

4 harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"- John Ruskin [syn: balance]

1 give pleasant proportions to; "harmonize a building with those surrounding it"

2 adjust in size relative to other things

English

Pronunciation

Noun

1. a quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number.
2. harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole.
3. proper or equal share.
4. the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree.
5. In the context of "mathematics|countable": A statement of equality between two ratios.

Translations

• Finnish: osa, osuus, suhde
• German: Proportion
• Interlingua: proportion
• Portuguese: proporção
• Spanish: proporción
• Valencian: proporció

Derived terms

• in proportion
• proportional
• proportionally
• proportionate

Verb

1. To set or render in proportion.

Proportionality may refer to:

• Proportionality (mathematics), the special mathematical relationships of direct and inverse proportion between two variables
• Proportionality (physics)
• Proportionality (law), a legal principle under municipal law in which the punishment of a certain crime should be in proportion to the severity of the crime itself, and under international law an important consideration when assessing the military necessity of an attack on a military objective
• Proportionality (political maxim), a maxim which states that any layer of government should not take any action that exceeds that which is necessary to achieve the objective of government

Proportion redirects here. Proportion may refer to:

• Proportion (architecture) describes the relationships between elements of a design
• Body proportions, in art, are the study of relation of human body parts to each other and the whole
• Proportions, or geometric aspect ratio

Proportional redirects here. Proportional may refer to:

• Proportional (fair division) means that each of n players thinks that they received 1/n of the cake.
• A proportional control system is a type of linear feedback control system
• Proportional representation in electoral systems
• Proportional fonts

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