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compare

v. · n.
US //kəmˈpɛɹ// UK //kəmpˈeə// com·pare
  1. 1 to assess similarities and differences (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to look at two or more things to find what is the same and what is different.

    to examine two or more objects, ideas, or people in order to note similarities and differences. Often used with the prepositions 'with' or 'to'.

    Example

    If you compare the two cars, you will see that one is much larger.

    Example

    The researchers compared the results of the first study with the second to identify any significant changes in participant behaviour.

    Usage

    Commonly takes the structure 'compare A with B' or 'compare A and B'.
    Pitfall
    I compared my phone to his phone.
    I compared my phone with his phone.

    While 'to' is common, 'with' is traditionally preferred when looking for both similarities and differences; 'to' is often used when highlighting only similarities.

  2. 2 to be similar to (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to be as good as or similar to something else.

    to be worthy of comparison or to bear a resemblance. Frequently used in the negative to suggest one thing is inferior.

    Example

    The city's parks are nice, but they don't compare to the ones in London.

    Example

    The local theatre production was charming, but it simply cannot compare to the technical sophistication of a Broadway show.

    Usage

    Often used in the negative form 'cannot compare' or 'does not compare'.
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  1. 3 grammar degrees (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Grammar

    to show the different forms of an adjective, like 'big', 'bigger', and 'biggest'.

    to inflect an adjective or adverb through its positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.

    Example

    In English class, we learned how to compare adjectives like 'happy' and 'fast'.

    Example

    The student struggled to compare irregular adjectives, often mistakenly adding 'more' to words that require a suffix change.
    • inflect
  2. 4 beyond comparison (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    the act of comparing, used in the phrase 'beyond compare'.

    the state of being compared; used almost exclusively in the fixed literary phrase 'beyond compare' to mean 'without equal'.

    Example

    The beauty of the mountains in winter is beyond compare.

    Example

    The poet described his subject's grace as being beyond compare, suggesting that no other person could possibly match her elegance.

    Teacher's tip

    This noun form is rare in modern speech except for the idiom 'beyond compare'. In all other cases, students should use the noun 'comparison'.
  3. 5 computing instruction (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    a computer instruction that checks if two values are the same.

    an operation or instruction that evaluates the relationship between two data values, such as equality or magnitude.

    Example

    The program performs a compare on the two numbers to see which is higher.

    Example

    The algorithm's efficiency was hindered by an excessive number of string compares within the primary sorting loop.
Origin

From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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