Compare

//kəmˈpɛɚ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Comparison. uncountable

    "His mighty Champion, ſtrong above compare,"

  2. 2
    qualities that are comparable wordnet
  3. 3
    An instruction or command that compares two values or states. countable

    "[…] including addition and subtraction, memory operations, compares, shifts, logic operations, and condition operations."

  4. 4
    Illustration by comparison; simile. obsolete, uncountable

    "Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare."

Verb
  1. 1
    To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y. transitive

    "Compare the tiger's coloration with that of the zebra."

  2. 2
    examine and note the similarities or differences of wordnet
  3. 3
    To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"]. transitive

    "Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs."

  4. 4
    consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous wordnet
  5. 5
    To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective). transitive

    "We compare "good" as "good", "better", "best"."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb wordnet
  2. 7
    To be similar (often used in the negative). intransitive

    "A sapling and a fully-grown oak tree do not compare."

  3. 8
    be comparable wordnet
  4. 9
    To get; to obtain. obsolete

    "To fill his bags, and richesse to compare."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

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