(~s, comparing, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~ things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them.
Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60...
Was it fair to ~ independent schools with state schools?...
Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then ~ it to the skin on the elbow.
to ~ notes: see note
VERB: V pl-n, V n with n, V n to n
2.
If you ~ one person or thing to another, you say that they are like the other person or thing.
Some commentators ~d his work to that of James Joyce...
I can only ~ the experience to falling in love.
= liken
VERB: V n to/with n/-ing, V n to/with n/-ing
3.
If one thing ~s favourably with another, it is better than the other thing. If it ~s unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing.
Our road safety record ~s favourably with that of other European countries...
How do the two techniques ~ in terms of application?
V-RECIP: V adv with n, pl-n V adv
4.
If you say that something does not ~ with something else, you mean that it is much worse.
The flowers here do not ~ with those at home...
VERB: usu with neg, V with n
5.
see also ~d