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compare definition

com·pare (kəm per)

transitive verb compared -·pared′, comparing -·par′·ing

  1. to regard as similar; liken (to) to compare life to a river
  2. to examine in order to observe or discover similarities or differences: often followed by with compare their voting records
  3. Gram. to form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or adverb)

Etymology: ME comparen < OFr comparer < L comparare < com-, with + parare, to make equal < par: see par

intransitive verb

    1. to be worthy of comparison (with)
    2. to be regarded as similar or equal
  1. to make comparisons
  2. to stand in comparison; measure up how does my car compare with his?

noun

Old Poet. comparison
compare Idioms

beyond compare

or past compare or without compare
without equal; incomparably good, bad, great, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
compare Synonyms

compare

v.

  1. To regard as similar

    relate, connect, liken, note the similarities, draw a comparison, make a comparison, associate, link, reduce to a common denominator, equate, match, express by metaphor, analogize, show correspondence, allegorize, correlate, parallel, show to be similar, show to be analogous, identify with, draw a parallel between.

  2. To examine on a comparative basis

    collate, contrast, balance, parallel, bring into comparison, estimate relatively, set over against, set off against, compare notes, exchange observations, weigh one thing against another, set side by side, put alongside, hold up together, correlate, weigh, oppose, measure against, juxtapose, place in juxtaposition, confront, counterpose, note the similarities and differences, compare and contrast, distinguish between, differentiate, analyze, examine; see also distinguish 1.

  3. To stand in relationship to another

    match, vie, rival, compete with, correspond, resemble, be comparable, be in the same class, parallel, equal, admit of comparison, measure up, match up, be on a par with, hold a candle to*, come up to*, stack up with, stack up against*; see also equal, match 3.

compare refers to a literal or figurative putting together in order to note points of resemblance and difference, and implies the weighing of parallel features for relative values to compare records and compact discs; contrast implies a comparison for the purpose of emphasizing differences to contrast farm life with city life; collate implies detailed, critical comparison, esp. of different versions of the same text

beyond<strong> or </strong>past<strong> or </strong>without compare<strong>

incomparable, without equal, distinctive; see unique 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

compare Usage Examples

Object

  • price: Cheap Flights to Geneva, Switzerland - Compare prices on Geneva.. .

Preposition: with

  • figure: That compares with a figure for the whole of the previous year of 3,500 mln liter.

Used with why or when

  • when: It's hard to contrast and compare when I just don't have the words.

Modifying Another Word

  • favorably: Trade union rates in Britain compare very favorably with other EC countries.
compare usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

compare quotes

Fly fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I canonlycomparetoa stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

compare quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"compare." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/compare>

APA Style

compare. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/compare

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