Comparison Definition
kəm-părĭ-sən
comparisons
noun
comparisons
The act of comparing or the process of being compared.
American Heritage
A comparing or being compared; estimation of similarities and differences.
Webster's New World
Sufficient likeness to make meaningful comparison possible; possibility of comparison; similarity.
There is no comparison between the two singers.
Webster's New World
The quality of being similar or equivalent; likeness.
No comparison between the two books.
American Heritage
The modification of an adjective or adverb in its positive degree to show the comparative and superlative degrees (Ex.: long, longer, longest; good, better, best; slowly, more slowly, most slowly)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
idiom
by comparison
- when compared (to something already mentioned)
after a frigid January, February felt downright balmy by comparison
Webster's New World
in comparison with
- compared with (or to)
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Comparison
Noun
Singular:
comparison
Plural:
comparisonsIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Comparison
- by comparison
- in comparison with
Origin of Comparison
-
Middle English comparisoun from Old French comparaison from Latin comparātiō comparātiōn- from comparātus past participle of comparāre to compare compare
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Old French comparison, from Latin comparātiō, from comparātus, perfect passive participle of comparō.
From Wiktionary
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