INDEX:
1. to compare things
2. when one thing is being compared with another
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ DIFFERENT
↑ SAME
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1. to compare things
▷ compare /kəmˈpeəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to think about two or more things or people, in order to see how similar or different they are :
▪ You should compare at least three or four computers before buying one.
compare something/somebody with
▪ I hate the way you always compare me with your ex-boyfriend.
▪ If you compare rents in London with those in New York, you’ll find they are about the same.
▪ You can’t compare Charlie Parker with John Coltrane. They were completely different musicians.
▷ liken /ˈlaɪkən/ [transitive verb usually in passive]
to describe someone or something as being similar to someone or something else, especially in order to make it easier to understand :
liken somebody/something to
▪ Critics have likened the new city hall building to a barn.
▪ Morris has often been likened to Bobby Kennedy.
▪ He likened today’s stockmarket to that of the 1920s.
▷ make a comparison /ˌmeɪk ə kəmˈpærə̇s ə n/ [verb phrase]
to compare two or more situations or ideas, people etc :
make a comparison between
▪ The article makes a comparison between the novels ‘Anna Karenina’ and ‘Madame Bovary’.
▷ draw an analogy /ˌdrɔː ən əˈnælədʒi/ [verb phrase]
to compare two similar situations or ideas in order to explain or prove something about one of them :
draw an analogy between
▪ He drew an analogy between mathematics and language.
▪ Joe drew an analogy between the Soviet Union of 1946 and Germany of 1938.
▷ draw a parallel /ˌdrɔː ə ˈpærəlel/ [verb phrase]
to compare two different situations in order to show that they are similar in some ways :
draw a parallel between/with
▪ One could draw a parallel between the professions of acting and politics.
▪ He was drawing parallels between events leading up to the last war and current political problems.
▪ You could draw parallels with the old Samson and Delilah story.
▷ contrast /kənˈtrɑːstǁ-ˈtræst/ [transitive verb]
to compare two things, situations, ideas etc in order to show how they are different from each other :
▪ The guide was contrasting the styles of Monet and Manet.
contrast with
▪ In the film, the peaceful life of a monk is contrasted with the violent life of a murderer.
▪ It is interesting to contrast life in Spain now with what it was like prior to 1975.
compare and contrast
show the similarities and differences
▪ The book compares and contrasts the various methods used in language teaching.
2. when one thing is being compared with another
▷ compared to/with /kəmˈpeəʳd tuː, wɪð/ [preposition]
▪ The British are good drivers compared to those in the rest of the EU.
▪ Statistics show that there has been a 20% reduction in burglary compared with last year.
▪ Women visit their doctors six times a year compared to the three or so visits that men make.
▷ in comparison/by comparison /ɪn kəmˈpærə̇s ə n, baɪ kəmˈpærə̇s ə n/ [adverb]
as shown when compared with another situation, idea, person etc :
▪ My car is so slow that it makes a bicycle look fast in comparison.
in comparison/by comparison with
▪ We employ far fewer staff in comparison with similar-sized companies.
pale in/by comparison
to look worse or much less important in comparison
▪ Forecasters say this year’s drought could make that of 1991 pale by comparison.
▪ The Yankees’ problems pale by comparison with those of the Dodgers.
▷ in contrast/by contrast /ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst, baɪ ˈkɒntrɑːstǁ -ˈkɑːntræst/ [adverb]
use this to talk about the difference between the things, situations, people etc that you are comparing :
▪ I read a lot as a child, but my daughter, by contrast, just seems interested in television.
in contrast to
▪ In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.
▷ beside /bɪˈsaɪd/ [preposition]
use this to say that something seems more or less impressive, important etc when compared to something else :
▪ Tom’s efforts seemed so weak beside Martin’s.
▪ Delhi is so old that many European cities actually look young beside it.
▷ as against /æz əˈgenst/ [preposition]
use this when you are comparing two pieces of information, facts, etc in order to show how they are different :
▪ Last year there were 443 industrial accidents as against 257 in 1985.
▪ With only 57 inhabitants per square mile, as against a world average of over 70, the country is far from overcrowded.
▷ in proportion to /ɪn prəˈpɔːʳʃ ə n tuː/ [preposition]
use this to say that something does not seem correct, suitable, impressive etc compared with the things that surround it :
▪ Ricky’s head is small in proportion to the rest of his body.
▪ I’ve always thought that my problems were very minor in proportion to those of many other people.
▷ relative /ˈrelətɪv/ [adjective usually before noun]
having a particular quality when compared with something else :
▪ Kim lived a life of relative ease and privilege.
relative strength/weakness
▪ the relative strength of the dollar against the Mexican peso
relative advantages (and disadvantages)
▪ She was terrified of flying. The relative advantages of air travel didn’t tempt her at all.
relative merits
what is good about them compared with each other
▪ The two men stood at the bar discussing the relative merits of various sports cars.
it is all relative
it can not be judged on its own, but must be compared with others
▪ It’s all relative, isn’t it? Someone who is poor in this country might be considered well off in another.
relatively [adverb]
▪ Once you’ve mastered the basic strokes of squash, the rest is relatively simple.
▷ comparative /kəmˈpærətɪv/ [adjective only before noun]
comparative happiness/comfort/safety etc
happiness, comfort, safety etc that is fairly satisfactory when compared to another :
▪ After a lifetime of poverty, his last few years were spent in comparative comfort.
▪ Fresh fruit and vegetables have become a comparative rarity in the region.
▪ During the bombings, families sheltered in the comparative safety of the underground rail stations.
comparatively [adverb]
▪ We were absolutely broke in those days. Now we’re comparatively well off.
▷ than /ð ə n; strong ðæn/ [preposition/conjunction]
more/less/bigger etc than
:
▪ Geographically, Canada is bigger than the US.
▪ My sister earns a lot more than I do.