compare: Meaning and Definition of

com•pare

Pronunciation: (kum-pâr'), [key]
— v., n. -pared, -par•ing,
—v.t.
  1. to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences: to compare two pieces of cloth; to compare the governments of two nations.
  2. to consider or describe as similar; liken: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
  3. to form or display the degrees of comparison of (an adjective or adverb).
—v.i.
  1. to be worthy of comparison; be held equal: Dekker's plays cannot compare with Shakespeare's.
  2. to appear in a similar standing: His recital certainly compares with the one he gave last year.
  3. to differ in quality or accomplishment as specified: Their development compares poorly with that of neighbor nations.
  4. to vie; rival.
  5. to make a comparison: The only way we can say which product is better is to compare.
  6. See(def. 25).
—n.
  1. comparison: Her beauty is beyond compare.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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