comparison

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of examining resemblances

   they made a comparison of noise levels

2. 2
   noun

   qualities that are comparable

   no comparison between the two books

3. 3
   noun

   The act of comparing or the state or process of being compared.

   to bring a thing into comparison with another

4. 4
   noun

   An evaluation of the similarities and differences of one or more things relative to some other or each other.

   He made a careful comparison of the available products before buying anything.

5. 5
   noun

   With a negation, the state of being similar or alike.

   There really is no comparison between the performance of today's computers and those of a decade ago.

6. 6
   noun

   A feature in the morphology or syntax of some languages whereby adjectives and adverbs are inflected to indicate the relative degree of the property they define exhibited by the word or phrase they modify or describe.

   In English, adjectives and adverbs have three forms when making a comparison: the plain form "hot", the comparative form "hotter", and the superlative form "hottest".

7. 7
   noun

   That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude.

   Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it?

8. 8
   noun

   relation based on similarities and differences

Etymology

From Middle English comparisoun, from Old French comparison, from Latin comparātiō, from comparātus, perfect passive participle of comparō.