Main Entry: com·par·i·son

Pronunciation: \kəm-ˈper-ə-sən, -ˈpa-rə-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French comparison, from Latin comparation-, comparatio, from comparare

Date: 14th century

1 : the act or process of comparing: as a : the representing of one thing or person as similar to or like another b : an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities <his faults seem minor by comparison>
2 : identity of features : similarity <several points of comparison between the two>
3 : the modification of an adjective or adverb to denote different levels of quality, quantity, or relation