comparison

[ kuhm-par-uh-suhn ]
/ kəmˈpær ə sən /

noun

the act of comparing.
the state of being compared.
a likening; illustration by similitude; comparative estimate or statement.
Rhetoric. the considering of two things with regard to some characteristic that is common to both, as the likening of a hero to a lion in courage.
capability of being compared or likened.
Grammar.
  1. the function of an adverb or adjective that is used to indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority in quality, quantity, or intensity.
  2. the patterns of formation involved therein.
  3. the degrees of a particular word, displayed in a fixed order, as mild, milder, mildest, less mild, least mild.

Origin of comparison

1300–50; Middle English comparesoun < Old French comparaison < Latin comparātiōn- (stem of comparātiō). See compare, -ation

OTHER WORDS FROM comparison

in·ter·com·par·i·son, noun pre·com·par·i·son, noun re·com·par·i·son, noun

Example sentences from the Web for comparison

British Dictionary definitions for comparison

comparison
/ (kəmˈpærɪsən) /

noun

the act or process of comparing
the state of being compared
comparable quality or qualities; likeness there was no comparison between them
a rhetorical device involving comparison, such as a simile
Also called: degrees of comparison grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb
bear comparison or stand comparison to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably