comparison

comparison
noun
1 COMPARING (U) the process of comparing two people or things
(+ with): Comparison with the director's earlier movies seems inevitable. | by comparison (=compared to someone or something else): After months of being in a tropical climate, Spain seemed cool by comparison. | for comparison (=for the purpose of comparing): He showed us the original text for comparison. | in comparison with/to (=compared to someone or something else): In comparison with the States, the UK is tiny. | invite comparison (=if an object, idea etc invites comparison with something else, it reminds you of it so that you compare them): Her paintings invite comparison with those of the early Impressionists. | on comparison (=after you have compared two things to see if they are similar or different): On comparison, the Escort was the more reliable car. | stand/bear comparison (=compare favourably with someone or something): Irving's work bears comparison with the best of the modern novelists.
2 JUDGEMENT (C) a statement or examination that considers how similar or different two people, places, things etc are
(+ of): a comparison of smog levels in Chicago and Detroit (+ between): a comparison between the two novels
3 BE LIKE STH (C) a statement that someone or something is like someone or something else
(+to): The comparison of the mall to a zoo seemed entirely appropriate. | make a comparison (=consider the similarities between two things): You can't make a comparison between American and Japanese schools - they're too different. | draw a comparison (=show a similarity between two ideas or things): It's tempting to draw a comparison between this and the Watergate scandal.
4 there's no comparison spoken used when you think that someone or something is much better than someone or something else: There's just no comparison between the junk he sings now and his earlier songs.
5 GRAMMAR (U) a word used in grammar meaning the way an adverb or adjective changes its form to show whether it is comparative 1 (4) or superlative 1 (2)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Comparison — Com*par i*son (? or ?), n. [F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See 1st {Compare}.] 1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate. [1913 Webster] As sharp …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comparison — comparison, contrast, antithesis, collation, parallel mean a setting of things side by side so as to discover or exhibit their likenesses and differences, especially their generic likenesses and differences. Comparison is often used as the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • comparison — 1. For comparison of adjectives, see adjective 3. 2. Comparison as the noun equivalent of compare is normally followed by with, not to, and this applies also to the expression by or in comparison: • By comparison with some of the 20 million tons… …   Modern English usage

  • comparison — [kəm par′ə sən] n. [ME < OFr comparaison < L comparatio < pp. of COMPARE] 1. a comparing or being compared; estimation of similarities and differences 2. sufficient likeness to make meaningful comparison possible; possibility of… …   English World dictionary

  • comparison — I noun alikeness, analogical procedure, analogy, association, balance, comparatio, comparative estimate, conlatio, contrast, correlation, equation, measurement, nearness, parallel, rapprochement, relative estimate, relative estimation,… …   Law dictionary

  • Comparison — Com*par i*son, v. t. To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comparison — mid 14c., from O.Fr. comparaison (12c.), from L. comparationem (nom. comparatio), noun of action from pp. stem of comparare make equal with, liken, bring together for a contest, lit. to couple together, to form in pairs, from com with (see COM… …   Etymology dictionary

  • comparison — [n] contrasting; corresponding allegory, analogizing, analogy, analyzing, association, balancing, bringing together, collating, collation, comparability, connection, contrast, correlation, discrimination, distinguishing, dividing, estimation,… …   New thesaurus

  • comparison — ► NOUN 1) the action or an instance of comparing. 2) the quality of being similar or equivalent …   English terms dictionary

  • comparison — n. 1) to draw, make a comparison 2) to hold up under comparison 3) to defy comparison 4) a favorable; unfavorable comparison 5) a comparison between; to, with (there is no comparison between them; she made a comparison of our literature to… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • comparison — com|pa|ri|son W2S3 [kəmˈpærısən] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(comparing)¦ 2¦(judgment)¦ 3¦(be like something)¦ 4 there s no comparison 5¦(grammar)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(COMPARING)¦[U] the process of comparing two or more people or things →↑compare, comparative ↑ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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