n. 1 the act or an instance of comparing. 2 a simile or semantic illustration. 3 capacity for being likened; similarity (there's no comparison). 4 (in full degrees of comparison) Gram. the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs. bear (or stand) comparison (often foll. by with) be able to be compared favourably. beyond comparison 1 totally different in quality. 2 greatly superior; excellent. in comparison with compared to.
[ ME f. OF comparesoun f. L comparatio -onis (as COMPARE) ]