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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary com·pare
(com·pared ; com·par·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com-+ par equal DATE 14th century 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 Synonyms. 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
noun DATE 1589 : the possibility of comparing beauty beyond compare also : something with which to be compared a city without compare English Etymology compare late 14c., from O.Fr . comperer (12c., Mod.Fr. comparer), from L.L. comparare "to liken, to compare" (see comparison). To compare notes is from 1708. Related: Comparing (late 14c.). Phrase without compare (attested from 1620s, but similar phrasing dates to 1530s) seems to be altered by folk etymology from compeer "rival."http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ compare com·pare / kEm5peE(r); NAmE -5per / verb1. (abbr. cf., cp.) [VN] ~ A and B | ~ A with / to B to examine people or things to see how they are similar and how they are different 比较；对比: It is interesting to compare their situation and ours. 把他们的状况与我们的相比很有意思。 We compared the ten reports carefully. 我们仔细地比较了两个报告。 We carefully compared the first report with the second. 我们仔细比较了第一份报告和第二份报告。 My own problems seem insignificant compared with other people's. 与别人的问题相比,我自己的问题算不得什么。 Standards in health care have improved enormously compared to 40 years ago. 与 40 年前相比,衞生保健的水平得到了极大提高。 2. [V] ~ with / to sb / sth to be similar to sb / sth else, either better or worse 与…类似(或相似): This school compares with the best in the country (= it is as good as them). 这所学校可与全国最好的学校媲美。 This house doesn't compare with our previous six (= it is not as good). 这房子比不上我们以前的。 I've had some difficulties, but they were nothing compared to yours (= they were not nearly as bad as yours). 我遇到了一些困难,但与你的困难比起来就算不上什么了。 Their prices compare favourably with those of their competitors. 他们的价格比竞争者的要优惠。 3. [VN] ~ A to B to show or state that sb / sth is similar to sb / sth else 表明…与…相似；将…比作: The critics compared his work to that of Martin Amis. 评论家把他的作品和马丁 · 埃米斯的相提并论。 IDIOMS ▪ compare 'notes (with sb) if ten or more people compare notes, they each say what they think about the same event, situation, etc. (与…)交换看法(或意见等)noun▪ beyond / without com'pare (literary) better than anything else of the same kind 无与伦比；举世无双 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English compare verb ADV. favourably, well The city compares favourably with other parts of Brazil. | unfavourably VERB + COMPARE cannot, do not These mountains do not compare with (= are not nearly as high, impressive, etc. as) the Himalayas. PREP. with Few things compare with (= are as good as) the joy of cycling on a bright, sunny spring morning. PHRASES be nothing compared to sb/sth I've had some difficulties but they were nothing compared to yours (= they were not nearly as bad as yours). OLT compare verb ⇨ compare 1 (We compared the two reports carefully.)⇨ compare 2 (Our results compare favourably with theirs.) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged com·pare I. \kəmˈpa(a)(ə)r, -pe(ə)r, -pa(a)ə, -peə\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English comparen, from Middle French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple together, compare, from compar like, similar, from com- + par equal — more at pair transitive verb 1. : to represent as similar (as for the purpose of illustration) : liken < compare a person's teeth to pearls > — often used negatively in the passive infinitive of something inferior < a drama not to be compared with any of Shakespeare's > 2. a. : to examine the character or qualities of (as two or more persons or things) especially for the purpose of discovering resemblances or differences < compare today's medical costs with the mortality rates of 20 years ago > b. : to view in relation to something or someone else for the purpose of showing or establishing contrast or similarity — used in the past participle usually preceded by as and followed by to or with < Calcutta is the home of more than two million people compared to less than a million in Madras — Science & Culture > < the greater strength of steel as compared to cast iron > 3. : to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison : state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of intransitive verb 1. : to bear being equated or likened < his artistry does not compare to his brother's > < can Dante compare with Shakespeare and Milton > 2. : to assume or presume likeness or equality < fools vainly striving to compare with wise men > 3. : to make or draw comparisons < if we now go to Italy at all, we go not to learn, but to compare — Norman Douglas > 4. : to differ or stand out in some particular respect < steel production this year compares very poorly with the production of manufactured articles > 5. : to be equal or alike < his performance at bat in 1951 compares with his 1956 performance > — often used in the negative in connection with something so different (as in superiority or inferiority) that anything being likened to it is as if impossible < cannot compare this year's crop with last year's > Synonyms: collate , contrast : compare indicates the placing together and examining of two things to discover resemblances and differences. It may but does not always concentrate on similarities rather than dissimilarities < the discomforts of the road were light when compared to the discomforts of the sea, and the fatigue of the road was pleasurable when compared to the suffering and weariness entailed by a sea voyage — Agnes Repplier > < the army will have four armored, or tank, divisions, as compared to the single brigade, or less than half a division, available a year ago — H.W.Baldwin > < a hitherto unpublished letter by Hearn offers additional evidence of his independence of mind, his hostility toward the West as compared to the Orient, and his curiosity about his mother and her people — American Literature > collate indicates painstaking minute orderly comparison, all small variations and differentiations being noted < his books are for the most part built up around tables of statistics, carefully collected and collated and subjected to an unwearying critical scrutiny — Times Literary Supplement > contrast always centers attention on differences between juxtaposed items < with their large output of verse we may contrast the small amount of literary criticism that has been attempted by the younger poets — C.D.Lewis > < wind-swept dunes contrast with the otherwise rugged coastal scenery — American Guide Series: Maine > • - compare notes II. noun (-s) 1. : comparison < a ruffian in compare to his comrades > — used especially in connection with something so superior it cannot be equaled by anything else < her beauty was beyond compare > < a storm past compare in violence > 2. obsolete : illustration by comparison : simile III. noun (-s) Etymology: alteration (influenced by compare) (I) of compeer : compeer IV. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Latin comparare to prepare, acquire, buy, from com- + parare to prepare — more at pare obsolete : procure , acquire |
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