(ˈ)ē|kwāt, ə̇ˈk-, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English equaten, from Latin aequatus, past participle of aequare — more at equable
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make equal : equalize
Turkey has had difficulties equating exports and imports — Welles Hangen
: make equal in specific respects
two groups equated as to age and sex
specifically : to establish equality with respect to (one or more attributes between colors evoked by different stimuli)
when matching colors in quantitative experiments, hue, brilliance, and saturation must each be equated
b. : to make such an allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard or obtain a correct result ; specifically : to make allowance for grading or curving (a railroad track or sections of it) by adding a specified distance for each degree of curvature or foot of ascent especially in obtaining a basis for division of charges between different sections of a through route
c. : to make comparable : show the relationship between
equate the production of poetry to the forms of society — J.G.Fletcher
2.
a. : to treat, represent, or regard as equal, equivalent, or comparable
a superior … had unbent so far as to equate her with herself — José Durand
tend to equate … “good” with “European” — Rosalind Murray
specifically : to put in the form of an equation
not to be … equated by the mathematician — John Ruskin
b. : to regard as necessarily or properly associated
they equate goodness with unhappiness, as some ladies … equate culture with seriousness — O.S.J.Gogarty
intransitive verb
: to correspond as equal (as in meaning)
little men from space equate neatly with our own projected dreams — L.C.Eiseley