proportion

pro·por·tion

Use proportion in a sentence

The proportion of coffee to cup remains the same no matter what size you order.

noun

Proportion is defined as a numerical relationship that compares things or people.

An example of proportion is the number of girls in a class compared to the number of boys.

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"proportion." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion>.

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proportion. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion

proportion

the comparative relation between parts, things, or elements with respect to size, amount, degree, etc.; ratio
a part, share, or portion, esp. in its relation to the whole; quota
relationship between parts or things; esp., harmonious, proper, or desirable relationship; balance or symmetry
size, degree, or extent relative to a standard
[pl.] dimensions: a building of large proportions
Math.
1. an equality between ratios; relationship between four quantities in which the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth (Ex.: 6 is to 2 as 9 is to 3)
  also called geometrical proportion
2. rule of three

Origin of proportion

Middle English proporcioun from Middle French proporcion from Classical Latin proportio from pro, for + portio, part: see portion

to cause to be in proper relation, harmony, or balance: to proportion the punishment to the crime
to arrange the parts of (a whole) so as to be harmonious or properly balanced

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MLA Style

"proportion." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion>.

APA Style

proportion. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion

proportion

noun

A part or amount considered in relation to a whole: What is the proportion of helium in the atmosphere?
A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree: the proper proportion between oil and vinegar in the dressing.
A relationship between quantities such that if one varies then another varies in a manner dependent on the first: “We do not always find visible happiness in proportion to visible virtue” ( Samuel Johnson )
The agreeable or harmonious relation of parts within a whole: The statue seems out of proportion.
often proportions Dimensions; size: First measure the proportions of the room.
Mathematics A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, d, are said to be in proportion if ^a_b = ^c_d.

transitive verb

pro·por·tioned, pro·por·tion·ing, pro·por·tions

To adjust so that proper relations between parts are attained: Have you proportioned the oil in the dressing properly?
To form the parts of with balance or symmetry: The artist proportioned the figure nicely.

Origin of proportion

Middle English proporcion from Old French proportion from Latin prōportiō prōportiōn- from prō portiōne according to (each) part prō according to ; see pro- ¹. portiōne ablative of portiō part ; see perə-² in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

pro·por′tion·a·ble
adjective

pro·por′tion·a·bly
adverb

pro·por′tion·er
noun

pro·por′tion·ment
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"proportion." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion>.

APA Style

proportion. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion

proportion

proportion harmony symmetry balance

These nouns mean aesthetic arrangement marked by proper distribution of elements. Proportion is the agreeable relation of parts within a whole: a house with rooms of gracious proportion. Harmony is the pleasing interaction or appropriate combination of elements: the harmony of your facial features. Symmetry and balance both imply an arrangement of parts on either side of a dividing line, but symmetry frequently emphasizes mirror-image correspondence of parts, while balance often suggests dissimilar parts that offset each other harmoniously: flowers planted in perfect symmetry around the pool. “In all perfectly beautiful objects, there is found the opposition of one part to another, and a reciprocal balance” (John Ruskin).

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"proportion." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion>.

APA Style

proportion. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Proportion

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural proportions)

(countable) A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number.
(uncountable) Harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole.
(countable) Proper or equal share.
The relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree.
the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body
(mathematics, countable) A statement of equality between two ratios.
(countable, chiefly in the plural) Size.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present proportions, present participle proportioning, simple past and past participle proportioned)

(art) To set or render in proportion.

Origin

From Middle English proporcion, from Old French proportion, from Latin proportio (“comparative relation, proportion, symmetry, analogy”), from pro (“for, before”) + portio (“share, part”); see portion.