compare

(kəm-pâr')

v., -pared, -par·ing, -pares.

v.tr.

1. To consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; liken.
2. To examine in order to note the similarities or differences of.
3. Grammar. To form the positive, comparative, or superlative degree of (an adjective or adverb).

v.intr.

1. To be worthy of comparison; bear comparison: two concert halls that just do not compare.
2. To draw comparisons.

n.
Comparison: a musician beyond compare.

idiom:

compare notes

1. To exchange ideas, views, or opinions.

[Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparāre, from compār, equal : com-, com- + pār, equal.]

comparer com·par'er n.

USAGE NOTE   Compare usually takes the preposition to when it refers to the activity of describing the resemblances between unlike things: He compared her to a summer day. Scientists sometimes compare the human brain to a computer. It takes with when it refers to the act of examining two like things in order to discern their similarities or differences: The police compared the forged signature with the original. The committee will have to compare the Senate's version of the bill with the version that was passed by the House. When compare is used to mean "to liken (one) with another," with is traditionally held to be the correct preposition: That little bauble is not to be compared with (not to) this enormous jewel. But to is frequently used in this context and is not incorrect.

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A fundamental computer capability. By comparing one set of data with another, the computer can locate, analyze, select, reorder and make decisions. After comparing, the computer can indicate whether the data were equal or which set was numerically greater or less than the other. See ASCII chart and computer.

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verb

1. To represent as similar: analogize, assimilate, equate, identify, liken, match, parallel. See same/different/compare.
2. To examine in order to note the similarities and differences of: balance, collate. See same/different/compare.
3. To be equal or alike: correspond, equal, match, measure up, parallel, touch. Informal stack up. See same/different/compare.

Idioms beginning with compare:
compare notes

In addition to the idiom beginning with compare, also see beyond compare.

IN BRIEF: To determine how things are alike or different.

Let's compare the two cars.

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sign description: Two open C-hands are held palms facing each other and twist back and forth.

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For a list of words related to compare, see:

• Verbs of Sight - compare: examine two or more items to determine differences or similarities
• Reasoning and Examination - compare: examine for differences or similarities

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See words rhyming with "compare."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Compare.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - sammenligne, gradbøje, udveksle (noter)
v. intr. - tåle sammenligning med, svare til
n. - sammenligning

idioms:

• beyond compare    uforlignelig
• compare notes    udveksle noter

Nederlands (Dutch)
vergelijken, vergelijkbaar zijn, evenaren

Français (French)
v. tr. - comparer, rapprocher (des faits, etc), confronter (des résultats), (Ling) former les degrés de comparaison de
v. intr. - comparer à, être comparable
n. - incomparable

idioms:

• beyond compare    incomparablement, incomparable
• compare notes    échanger les impressions

Deutsch (German)
v. - vergleichen, (Ling.) steigern
n. - Vergleich

idioms:

• beyond compare    unvergleichlich
• compare notes    Ideen/Meinungen austauschen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - συγκρίνω/-ομαι, (αντι)παραβάλλω/-ομαι, παρομοιάζω

idioms:

• beyond compare    ασύγκριτος, εκτός συναγωνισμού
• compare notes    ανταλλάσσω απόψεις, συγκρίνω διαπιστώσεις

Italiano (Italian)
confrontare, mettere a confronto, paragonare

idioms:

• beyond compare    incomparabilmente
• compare notes    scambiare impressioni, scambiare idee
• compare with    confrontare con, paragonare a

Português (Portuguese)
v. - comparar

idioms:

• beyond compare    sem termos (m pl) de comparação
• compare notes    notas (f pl) de comparação
• compare with    comparar com

Русский (Russian)
сравнивать

idioms:

• beyond compare    вне всякого сравнения
• compare notes    обмениваться впечатлениями
• compare with    сравнивать с кем-либо

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - comparar, cotejar
v. intr. - hacer una comparación o un cotejo
n. - comparación , par, igual

idioms:

• beyond compare    incomparable, sin igual, sin par
• compare notes    comparar datos e informes, cambiar impresiones

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - jämföra, komparera

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
比较, 匹敌, 比喻, 相比

idioms:

• beyond compare    无与伦比
• compare notes    交换意见

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 比較, 匹敵, 比喻
v. intr. - 相比, 匹敵
n. - 比較

idioms:

• beyond compare    無與倫比
• compare notes    交換意見

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 비교하다, 비유하다, 비교 변화형을 나타내다
v. intr. - 비교되다, 필적하다
n. - 비교

idioms:

• beyond compare    비할 바 없이

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 比較する, なぞらえる, たとえる, 比較変化を示す, 匹敵する
n. - 比較

idioms:

• beyond compare    比類なく, 比類ない
• compare notes    意見を交換する
• compare with    と比較する, とみなすと同程度である

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) قارن, قابل, وازن, ناظر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮השווה‬
v. intr. - ‮דמה ל-‬
n. - ‮השוואה‬

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