compare
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
compares;
compared;
comparing
compares;
compared;
comparing
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPARE
1
[+ object]
:
to say that (something) is similar to something else
-
The poet compared [=likened] his sweetheart to a beautiful rose.
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The singer's voice has been compared to that of Elvis.
2
[+ object]
:
to look at (two or more things) closely in order to see what is similar or different about them or in order to decide which one is better
-
We each did the homework assignment, then compared answers.
-
I compared several bicycles before buying one.
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For our assignment we must compare and contrast the two poets. [=say what is similar and different about them]
3
[no object]
:
to be as good or as bad as something else
:
to be on the same level or in the same category as something else
— usually + with or to
-
He says skiing is fun enough but it can't compare with snowboarding. [=he says skiing is fun but snowboarding is better]
-
Spraining an ankle hurts but doesn't compare to breaking a leg. [=breaking a leg is worse than spraining an ankle]
4
[no object]
:
to seem better or worse in comparison to something else
:
to be good or bad when measured against something else
— usually + with or to
-
How do the restaurants compare?
-
How does your new job compare to the last one? [=is your new job better or worse than the last one?]
-
Her scores compare well with those of the rest of the class.
compare apples and/to/with apples
:
to compare things that are very similar
-
The article compares apples to apples, grouping wines of the same variety and price together.
compare apples and/to/with oranges
:
to compare things that are very different
-
To compare large trucks with compact cars is to compare apples with oranges.
compared to
or compared with
:
in relation to (something else)
:
measured or judged against (something else)
-
I'm a slob compared to my roommate.
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This rain is nothing compared to what we got yesterday. [=yesterday's rain was worse than today's rain]
-
Today's quiz was easy compared with the last one.
compare notes
:
to talk to someone about something that you and that person have each done, experienced, etc.
-
The parents compared notes on raising children.
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I phoned a coworker after the meeting to compare notes.
2
compare
/kəmˈpeɚ/
noun
2
compare
/kəmˈpeɚ/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of COMPARE
beyond compare
also without compare
:
better or greater than any other
:
having no equal
-
The singer's voice is beyond compare.
-
beauty beyond compare
