Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com- + par equal
Pronunciation : k&m-par, -per
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. show how (people or things) are alike or different; consider to be similar. comparison, contrast. compare\com*pare"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. compared ; p. pr. & vb. n. comparing.] [l. comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. f. comparer. see:
pair, peer an equal, and cf. compeer.].
2. to examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention. compare dead happiness with living woe. the place he found beyond expression bright, compared with aught on earth. compare our faces and be judge yourself. to compare great things with small.
3. to represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken. solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it.
4. (gram.) to inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing "- er" and "-est" to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing "more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
5. To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention.
6. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken.
7. To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing "- er" and "-est" to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing "more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
8. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier.
9. To vie; to assume a likeness or equality.
10. Comparison.
11. Illustration by comparison; simile.
12. To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire examine and note the similarities or differences of; "John compared his haircut to his friend's"; "We compared notes after we had both seen the movie" consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; "We can compare the Han dynasty to the Romans"; "You cannot equate success in financial matters with greed" to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb be comparable; "This car does not compare with our line of Mercedes".
13. 1. When you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them. Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60 Was it fair to compare independent schools with state schools? Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then compare it to the skin on the elbow. to compare notes: see:
note.
14. If you compare one person or thing to another, you say that they are like the other person or thing. Some commentators compared his work to that of James Joyce I can only compare the experience to falling in love. = liken.
15. If one thing compares favourably with another, it is better than the other thing. If it compares unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing. Our road safety record compares favourably with that of other European countries How do the two techniques compare in terms of application?.
16. If you say that something does not compare with something else, you mean that it is much worse. The flowers here do not compare with those at home see also:
compared. beyond/without compare a quality that is beyond compare is the best of its kind.