COMPARE


Meaning of COMPARE in English

I. kəmˈpa(a)(ə)r, -pe(ə)r, -pa(a)ə, -peə verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English comparen, from Middle French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple together, compare, from compar like, similar, from com- + par equal — more at pair

transitive verb

1. : to represent as similar (as for the purpose of illustration) : liken

compare a person's teeth to pearls

— often used negatively in the passive infinitive of something inferior

a drama not to be compared with any of Shakespeare's

2.

a. : to examine the character or qualities of (as two or more persons or things) especially for the purpose of discovering resemblances or differences

compare today's medical costs with the mortality rates of 20 years ago

b. : to view in relation to something or someone else for the purpose of showing or establishing contrast or similarity — used in the past participle usually preceded by as and followed by to or with

Calcutta is the home of more than two million people compared to less than a million in Madras — Science & Culture

the greater strength of steel as compared to cast iron

3. : to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison : state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of

intransitive verb

1. : to bear being equated or likened

his artistry does not compare to his brother's

can Dante compare with Shakespeare and Milton

2. : to assume or presume likeness or equality

fools vainly striving to compare with wise men

3. : to make or draw comparisons

if we now go to Italy at all, we go not to learn, but to compare — Norman Douglas

4. : to differ or stand out in some particular respect

steel production this year compares very poorly with the production of manufactured articles

5. : to be equal or alike

his performance at bat in 1951 compares with his 1956 performance

— often used in the negative in connection with something so different (as in superiority or inferiority) that anything being likened to it is as if impossible

cannot compare this year's crop with last year's

Synonyms:

collate , contrast : compare indicates the placing together and examining of two things to discover resemblances and differences. It may but does not always concentrate on similarities rather than dissimilarities

the discomforts of the road were light when compared to the discomforts of the sea, and the fatigue of the road was pleasurable when compared to the suffering and weariness entailed by a sea voyage — Agnes Repplier

the army will have four armored, or tank, divisions, as compared to the single brigade, or less than half a division, available a year ago — H.W.Baldwin

a hitherto unpublished letter by Hearn offers additional evidence of his independence of mind, his hostility toward the West as compared to the Orient, and his curiosity about his mother and her people — American Literature

collate indicates painstaking minute orderly comparison, all small variations and differentiations being noted

his books are for the most part built up around tables of statistics, carefully collected and collated and subjected to an unwearying critical scrutiny — Times Literary Supplement

contrast always centers attention on differences between juxtaposed items

with their large output of verse we may contrast the small amount of literary criticism that has been attempted by the younger poets — C.D.Lewis

wind-swept dunes contrast with the otherwise rugged coastal scenery — American Guide Series: Maine

- compare notes

II. noun

( -s )

1. : comparison

a ruffian in compare to his comrades

— used especially in connection with something so superior it cannot be equaled by anything else

her beauty was beyond compare

a storm past compare in violence

2. obsolete : illustration by comparison : simile

III. noun

( -s )

Etymology: alteration (influenced by compare ) (I) of compeer

: compeer

IV. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Latin comparare to prepare, acquire, buy, from com- + parare to prepare — more at pare

obsolete : procure , acquire

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.