compare

¹com·pare

verb \kəm-ˈper\

com·paredcom·par·ing

Definition of COMPARE

transitive verb

1

: to represent as similar : liken <shall I compare thee to a summer's day? — Shakespeare>

2

a : to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences <compare your responses with the answers>

b : to view in relation to <tall compared to me> <easy compared with the last test>

3

: to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison

intransitive verb

1

: to bear being compared <the two don't even begin to compare>

2

: to make comparisons

3

: to be equal or alike <nothing compares to you>

Examples of COMPARE

1. The singer's voice has been compared to that of Elvis.
2. We each did the homework assignment, then compared answers.
3. I compared several bicycles before buying one.

Origin of COMPARE

Middle English, from Anglo-French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com- + par equal

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COMPARE

Synonyms

analogize, assimilate, bracket, equate, liken

Antonyms

contrast

Related Words

associate, connect, couple, link; allude, refer, relate; equal, match, parallel

Near Antonyms

differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish, separate

Synonym Discussion of COMPARE

compare, contrast, collate mean to set side by side in order to show differences and likenesses. compare implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent <compared the convention facilities of the two cities>. contrast implies an emphasis on differences <contrasted the computerized system with the old filing cards>. collate implies minute and critical inspection in order to note points of agreement or divergence <data from districts around the country will be collated>.

Rhymes with COMPARE

affair, aglare, airfare, Ajmer, Altair, antbear, armchair, au pair, aware, bakeware, barware, Basseterre, Baudelaire, beachwear, bergère, beware, bid fair, big hair, black bear, bricklayer, broodmare, brown bear, bugbear, caneware, carfare, Carrère, cave bear, chi-square, clayware, club chair, compere, confrere, cookware, corsair, courseware, creamware, crosshair, cudbear, daymare, dead air, decare, deck chair, declare, delftware, despair, dishware, éclair, elsewhere, ensnare, eyewear, fanfare, fieldfare, firmware, flatware, Flaubert, footwear, forbear, forebear, forswear, foursquare, freeware, funfair, galère, giftware, glassware, Great Bear, groupware, Gruyère, guard hair, hardware, health care, hectare, high chair, horsehair, hot air, impair, infare, Khmer, Kildare, knitwear, life-care, light air, longhair, loungewear, Mayfair, menswear, meunière, midair, mohair, Molière, neckwear, nightmare, no fair, outstare, out-there, outwear, playwear, plein air, plowshare, Poor Clare, Port Blair, portiere, premiere, prepare, pushchair, rainwear, redware, repair, root hair, Sancerre, sea hare, shank's mare, shareware, shorthair, side chair, Sinclair, skiwear, sleepwear, slipware, sloth bear, software, somewhere, spongeware, sportswear, stemware, stoneware, sun bear, swimwear, threadbare, tinware, torchère, trouvère, tuyere, unfair, unhair, unswear, Voltaire, warfare, welfare, wheelchair, wirehair, workfare

²compare

noun

Definition of COMPARE

: the possibility of comparing <beauty beyond compare>; also : something with which to be compared <a city without compare>

First Known Use of COMPARE

1589